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Calls for Grand Jury Reform Underway

Vol. 19 Issue 49

Dean of Senate & Defense Attorney Demands Change

Pastor Lloyd Giles of House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church

Inside Page 4

Grand

jury clears

Houston

police officer in shooting death of unarmed

HOUSTON – African-American News&Issues presents Pastor Lloyd Giles of the House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church as our religion profile of the week. Born in a small town known as Keachi along the region of Shreveport, Louisiana is Lloyd Giles. His parents relocated to the Acres Homes community in Houston when he was just a toddler. With nine other brothers and sisters, Giles remembers being called “Lil Keachi” in school, while his elder brother was known as “Big Keachi”. During his youth, he attended Mabel B. Wesley Elementary School. After completing the required studies he graduated from M.C. Williams Junior and Senior High School in 1970. He would later go on to attend Durham College for Electronics. For over forty years he was under the leadership of Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church. As a lad, Giles indicated that his father and mother (Eliza Roberson) were always sure that they were found in the house of prayer, every time the church doors were open. “I mean Sunday School, Prayer Meeting and Bible Study, evening service and every other service – we were there” said Giles during an interview. He explained that his father, Handy Giles served as a deacon at Greater Zion. He reminisced of how his father literally helped build the church and went down in history with his name on the cornerstone; as well as, cleaned the church and brought other families there.

Continue RELIGION pg 8

26-year-old Jordan Baker

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African

American News&Issues

2014 Biggest Losers & Winners Mountain Talk By Dewayne Charleston Managing Editor

A

s 2014 comes to a close, here’s my “non-traditional” categories list of the year’s biggest winners and losers. At the top of the “hackers” category for Biggest Losers List is North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for hacking Sony’s emails. Joining him is President Barack Obama for hacking German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s emails, and the National Security Administration (NSA) for hacking ‘everybody’s’ emails. On the “winners list” in that

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category is everybody on this planet that does not have an email account that would be my dad and everybody in North Korea. In the “entertainers and athletes” category, give it up for the biggest loser, Charles Barkley who, not only gained all his weight back when his endorsement with Weight Watchers expired, but is simply “turible” when it comes to anything he says. Coming in a distant second and third in this category were the television show, “the Biggest Loser” and the sequel to the movie, “Dumb and Dumber”. The loser, Barkley, denied them both, the top spot. In the winners category for entertainers and athletes, is NBA player Derrick Rose and the NFL St. Louis Rams who were the first athletes to show solidarity with the Ferguson and

Edit rial & Opini n

New York protestors. It is a safe bet, however, that Rose, pulled a muscle when taking off his shirt. Dr. Dre is definitely a “winner” in this category in that he made three times as much as money as Oprah Winfrey...Now that’s a ....umm “African-American” wit an attitude (As much as I wanted to, I just couldn’t type it). In the “Dictators” category, the winner again, again, and again, is Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe who turned 91 years old this year. Joining him in the winner’s category is Fidel Castro, who has lived long enough to see a thaw in U.S.-Cuban relationships, and a chance to trade in his green1958 Plymouth for a custom camouflaged-green Escalade, and a billion dollars worth of stock in the American tourism industry. I would name North Korean leader Kim Jong-un the loser, but I’ve got 99 problems , and I don’t want my

Texas • DecemberTexas 29, 2014 - January 4, 2013 2015 • August 12-18,

email’s to make it 100. The biggest loser in the “Mammals” category, are Black men. We are now seemingly less protected by our government than, Killer Whales, Black Bears, and Wild Hogs. Other losers in this category are Mark Zimmerman, Darren Wilson, and Daniel Panteleo. All three were added to the protected species list joining whales and bears, and “pigs” (not to be lumped in with “good, law abiding police officers”) who have gunned down unarmed Black men without justification. There were no winners in this category. In the “Clergy” category, the biggest loser is Pastor Jamal Bryant who actually said from the pulpit, “these hoes ain’t loyal” I don’t know who he was talking about, but I know at least “one president” who was probably saying that of senators

“How to Love & Keep Her ‘Fire’ Burning” Parental Advisory: (For mature audiences only)

You and the love of your life have been married nearly 25 years. All the kids are grown and have left home to start their own lives. Gone is the dependency on a caring mom who is the glue that holds families together. No more daughters to mother talks. No more mommas’s boys hugging and kissing on her all day long. The kids have left. All that’s left in a big empty house is you and your wife. You’re a little older, a little wiser, and even possibly a little slower. No matter how much you deny it, life is changing. Love is being re-defined and the quality of passion is more important than the quantity of its works. Tonight, I want to talk to us older fellers about loving our wives as we mature into our golden years. Here goes: Women are God’s most beautiful, wonderfully built creations. He may have created them from Adam’s ribs, but let’s remember that God put Adam in a deep sleep first. I imagine that He did this so He could marvel at His work before man could see it for himself. God probably looked at Eve and said to Himself: “I did

good………..” We fellers can co-sign on God’s proclamation, especially if He’s blessed us with our own “Eve”. As we age, our young friends “Testosterone and Estrogen” have begun to leave us just like our children did. Hell, I believe that we somehow mysteriously passed it on to them through the air or something. We don’t have as much as we used to no matter what our egos or minds may say. Our batteries, by design, have begun to run low. It is during these times that men must recognize the needs of their beautifully mature mates. We can’t think that they’re not sexual beings any longer just because their “drives” are not as strong. We must make sure that they feel loved and made love to in a smoother, more passionate way. Take foreplay to a different level, massaging her mind as well as her body. Make her feel wanted, needed, and sexy as you brush her graying hair or rub on her tiring feet. Take yo time with her; don’t rush. Remember it’s the quality of the experience now. Touch her in

places that she thought you’d forgotten and make her sweat out her perm. Kiss her on her neck and make her giddy like a teenager. Nibble on her earlobes and whisper “where do you want me to put this at” as you tickle her with your tongue. Tell her that “she’s YO gurl” and put her to sleep. Fellers take care of yourselves but also realize when you might need a little “help” from time to time. Get regular checkups and let your doctors know when you’re not “performing” like you used to. Ain’t nothing wrong with that. Help yo manhood so you can keep yo woman good. You don’t have to run a marathon or a sprint, you can take yo time in the romance department and your wife will give you a gold medal just for trying. She just wants to know that you still care. You never know what may “pop” up, if yo wife rubs you the right way. Just make sure you’re ready. In closing, there’s nothing sexier and prettier than a fine-ass woman with graying hair and a spunky personality. She still “switches” when she walks, not afraid to show those nice bow-legs. Her hips are

who refused to be seen with him on the campaign trail last fall. And the winner in this category is soul singer Robin Thicke, who became the new “Weeping Prophet” with his hit single, “Lost without You”. And lastly in the “Nobody Seems to Care Anymore” category, the biggest losers are the abducted Nigerian school girls. America found Osama Bin Laden after an exhaustive search in an Pakistan haystack. A single bloody glove was found behind OJ’s house, at night - that turned out not to fit (even surprising at the last minute, his attorney, Johnnie Cochran). We found a treatment for Ebola - once it got to America’s shores. Hell, we even found a whole dinosaur in North Dakota...nobody even lives in North Dakota! Why can’t we find and bring our precious girls home?

Before I Lay it Down... By “Coach” Mark Spivey

full and her complexion is flawless. She speaks with confidence and she knows that her ish is good. Fellers, treat her that way. God bless, goodBusiness Card for Paper 14_Layout 1 12/11/14 night, a keep yo families together.

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Edit rial & Opini n

African-American Gangs & Sports Manhood, Race & Culture By Dr. James Thomas Jones, III

I

t was a truly peculiar moment that remained in my mind for many reasons. However, the image was no more shocking and stupefying than the message board responses that followed it; the alluded to responses hinted at my being one of the few, if not the only, viewer who deciphered the contemptuous message that not only left me in a state of disbelief, but also caused me to search for ways to either discount or dispute my interpretation of the image; however, doing so called for me to lie to myself. I knew the message the image conveyed, even if no one else noticed. That message was that America’s gang culture had arrived, brashly and unapologetically I might add, onto center stage of this nation’s collegiate sports scene and there was not a damn thing we could do about it. As a proud alumnus of THE Ohio State University, I make it my business to stay abreast of developments concerning the recruitment of the next generation of gridiron warriors who will don Scarlet and Grey jerseys. I am not alone in this obsession, the ‘Buckeye Nation’ includes millions of fanatics that cheer the Buckeyes onto victory every Saturday; an obsession that appears cultish to outsiders in late November when THE Ohio State University delivers an annual drubbing to the hated Wolverines from that School Up North; in typical Buckeye fashion, I refuse to even speak that state’s forbidden name. So, it was not unusual for me to visit my favorite recruiting site in search of information regarding my alma mater’s football program. It was during one of my daily check-ins that I witnessed a photo of Demetrius Knox, a highly sought after Offensive Lineman who carried the moniker of ‘Big Meech’; a title that may very

well have been a play upon this young man’s stature and name or quite possibly a means of paying homage to ‘Big Meech’ a leader of the Detroit based Black Mafia Family. A who’s who of college football programs, desperately pursued ‘Big Meech’s’ signature on a National Letter of Intent for his athletic prowess; most project that this young man would at worst be a significant contributor the moment he arrived on some major college campus in the Fall. ‘Big Meech’ is apparently any college football coaches dream; at least in regards to his athletic ability. My heart tried to deny that the photo taken of ‘Big Meech’ dressed in Ohio State’s signature Scarlet and Grey uniform at the Woody Hayes Athletic Facility during a recruiting trip captured the young man brazenly displaying a gang sign denoting his affiliation/association with the violent street gang the Bloods. The average fan’s ignorance of gang culture, a subculture that many of today’s athletes were not only exposed to on a daily basis during their upbringing, is the reason that ‘Big Meech’s’ photo went unnoticed. I laughed aloud at one OSU football fans response to the photo, he responded with ‘Peek-aboo, I see you’; as if ‘Big Meech’ were playing a childhood game of ‘Peek-a-boo’ when he transformed his hand into a “b” and placed it over his eye. My mind searched for an answer to the piercing question of what does ‘Big Meech’ displaying a gang sign while being shown the bountiful cache of opportunities a major institution like THE Ohio State University has to offer say about the values that many African-American youth harbor today. In the midst of finally “making it”, this young man took it upon himself to communicate with what should be termed the dregs of the African-American community; however, within “the hood”, such individuals who for whatever reason find themselves steeped in immorality, criminality, and a nihilistic existence are revered for their immoral behavior and activities. Source: Aframnews

American News&Issues

3

Nothing has changed when it comes to policing Blacks! What happened to us is still happening to us! ~ Know your history!

It Has to Come from Within “What’s your New Year’s Resolution?”

This is a typical question that is often posed by friends and family members to one another towards the close of one year, going into another. I believe that in order best understand certain words you have to break them all the way down to the root word to get the best meaning. Thus, Webster’s Dictionary defines the term “resolution” as, “the act or process of: resolving, analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones or answering, solving and determining.” So then it seems to me that we need to break down the actual root word of “resolution” which is “resolve” at an attempt to get a better understanding of the actual word. Therefore “resolve” is, the act of making a definite and serious decision to do something. Now considering that a resolution is basically the act of making up one’s mind to make a definite and serious decision to do something; I believe that there are several determining factors that should be associated in regards to “New Year’s resolutions”. We MUST Understand that resolutions are something that have to come from within. It may be true that most people have good intentions as far as them wanting to change certain things, ways and habits about themselves. But if it is not something that you have made up your mind to truly do, then you are just making a resolution to be making a resolution. I know some people that have made New Year’s resolutions to stop drinking, smoking, cheating, lying, losing weight; I mean you name it I’ve heard it. But even in the year 2014, I find that the same New Year’s

resolutions that I heard people years ago making, they are still walking around talking about that is what they are going to change about themselves 20 years later. So this is why I’m stating here that some things just have to come from within. You have to have a made up mind that you want to accomplish a task or overcome an obstacle before it can actually become a reality. Because at the end of the day no one is responsible for resolving your resolution but you. So we can not blame anyone if the resolutions that we make for ourselves don’t pan out the way that we thought they should. We MUST Understand that some things if a person really wants to change about themselves does not take going out of one year to going into another to change it. Honestly speaking, when a person makes up in his or her mind that they really want to change something about themselves, it does not take a certain day or season of the year to do so. All it takes is a made up mind and the right will power to want to do it and it shall be done. Otherwise, those New Year’s resolutions are just repetitious words that come around from one year to another. And just as soon as that turkey can be disposed of on Thanksgiving Day and as quick as that wrapping paper off of those exchange gifts have been unravelled and thrown away; then that is about as quick as some of those New Year’s resolutions go through the mind, out of the mouth and right back to sitting idle until the end of the year the next time around. Addressing the faithful and loyal readers of African-American News&Issues, if at any point or time in your life you look in the mirror and become disgusted with the person that you see or the person that you have become then you should decide to do something within yourself to change

- Roy Douglas Malonson

We MUST Understand By Roy Douglas Malonson, Chairman

instantly. Although changes and habits are not made instantly, a person can come to a decision in their mind that they do want to do a certain thing and it will be so. However, you do have to work at change because it will not happen overnight. But if you are controlled by the principle of starting a new year off right then why wait until January 1st gets here? You should begin working on whatever it is you want to change within yourself the day that you get the notion to change. As it is, we are living in times where people leave home and go to the store and never return. As a matter of fact, some people don’t even have to leave home and lose their lives. We MUST Understand that, tomorrow is not promised and while some people have set New Year’s resolutions in place, there have been others who have made resolutions for January 1st and never made it pass December 31st. Concluding I would just like to reiterate the words of an English author known as, Neil Gaiman, who made a statement in regards to the new year. He stated, “I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” So I encourage anyone that is reading this editorial that if you don’t get anything else out of it, remember that whatever you do or make plans to do, make sure that it comes from within...

all original responses from Letter to the Editor Weourwelcome readers to content found in the

African-American News&Issues. Letters to the Publisher may be sent via e-mail to news@aframnews.com. Please keep all letters under 300 words. Be sure to include the author’s name, area of residence. All letters and articles may be verified before they are published. All letters are subjected to editing or being cut for spacing purposes. Thank you in advance for your submission. TX-3

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African

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REFORM from pg. 1

C ver St ry

Photo Credit : AP

HOUSTON - As 2014 comes to a close, perhaps no story is bigger than those surrounding grand juries. A grand jury even handed down an indictment on the sitting Texas Governor, Rick Perry. Grand juries no-billed a Ferguson, Missouri police officer and another in New York City. Just last week, Houston Police officer, Juvento Castro, who shot and killed 26-year-old unarmed Jordan Baker last January, was no-billed by a Harris County grand jury. For weeks protest have spread around the country addressing grand jury decisions The U.S Supreme Court has not visited the constitutionality of the system in almost 40 years. That could soon change. Around the country legislators are filing bills to overhaul the system as it is currently in practice. Some are even seeking to eliminate it altogether. Dean of Senate and Texas State Senator John Whitmire (D-Houston) has filed Senate Bill 135 which could change the manner in which grand jurors are selected and make it much more similar to the process used to select regular petit jurors. TX- 4

Petit Jurors, unlike grand jurors, sit on juries that decide guilt or innocence. Grand jurors are merely tasked with deciding if there is enough evidence to send a potential defendant to trial. Under Whitmire’s proposal, the “key-man” system would be abolished and grand jurors would be selected from the regular jury pool. “I’ve introduced legislation to use random selection using a voter registration system or something of that sort,” says Whitmire. He believes his proposal will take cronyism out of the process. The “key-man” system is a method used throughout much of the state of Texas whereby an appointed commission, as opposed to randomly selected individuals, determines who may serve on a grand jury. The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the system to be constitutional, while at the same time acknowledging its vulnerability to abuse. Court rulings and statistical analysis of have found the system tends to favor the powerful, while disenfranchising racial minorities, the poor, women and the young. According to Whitmire, all but two states, California and Texas

have abandoned the “key-man” selection process. “When judges select “key” people to select the grand jurorsthey get people who have lots of time, no schedule, and oftentimes they are political friends of the judge,” says Whitmire. “Recently a police officer was chosen as a grand juror foreman in a police officer shooting,” adds the senator. Citing the potential conflict that may arise, or the perceptions to which it may give sway. That case is only one example of a grand jury deliberation that has left the senator baffled. “I am still upset concerning the beating of an African-American male by three Rice University police officers, over a theft of a bicycle. The three White officers, off campus, repeatedly struck the victim with batons, a devise other agencies have abandoned the use of.” Whitmire says he will also be filing legislation concerning the withholding of public information from elected officials, the media and the public, in such cases. The previous case to which Whitmire alludes, is one in which an African-American male was charged in the shooting death of

Texas • DecemberTexas 29, 2014 - January 4, 2013 2015 • August 12-18,

a white police officer. The jury foreman in the Alfred Dewayne Brown case was James Koteras, an active Houston police officer and colleague of the murdered officer. “When everyone comes from the same socioeconomic system you don’t get a system that reflects the people; and the reality, or perception of African-Americans is just that,” says Whitmire. Agreeing with Whitmire is Attorney Teana Watson, a criminal defense lawyer who has also worked as an assistant district attorney in Fort Bend County. “The key man system can be easily fraught with nepotism, which can more easily lead to a lack of diversity on a grand jury, (especially) if your judiciary lacks diversity. Again and again, the statistics show that the grand jury in Harris, and surrounding counties, lack diversity.” When you combine that lack of diversity, with prosecutors who are predisposed to direct jurors to a certain outcome, particularly in officer involved cases, the Ferguson and New York no-bills, are what you get. “The due process that the officer (involved) shooting cases receives is not what the average defendant receives when their case is being presented to the grand jury. For example, it appears the Ferguson grand jury heard weeks of evidence: testimony-lay as well as expert, forensics, etc... that is not normal. It also appears that the Garner grand jury was presented with a great deal of evidence as well. It (certainly) appears in both cases that grand jurors were guided toward a “NO BILL”, which again is not the normal course,” Says Watson. “97 percent of cases presented to a grand jury are “true-billed.” And Watson also believes there are many in that 97 percent that should have never been indicted. She attributes the selective information that can be presented to those jurors by prosecutors. “As a practicing criminal defense attorney, I come across many cases that never should have been true billed, if only certain facts were

made known to the grand jury. Of course there have been cases that I personally represented people and presented packets of evidence to the grand jury and it has resulted in a “no bill”. However, in those cases the client had the foresight to hire me early enough to make the presentation to the grand jury. In many cases, people do not obtain an attorney until after a grand jury indictment” Criticism of the system in Texas is not limited to criminal defense attorneys or Senator Whitmire and his Democratic and Republican colleagues. John Stride, a senior appellate attorney for the Texas District and County Attorneys Association, wrote in an article for the organization this spring. “Grand Jurors are drawn from those persons who are considered pillars of the community and retirees. Many of these may have strong ties with law enforcement officers...(and are therefore) more likely to buy into whatever the judge, the prosecutor, or officers say.” “I hope the unfortunate incidents of late have served as a wakeup call to everyone that the criminal justice system is a process and you must participate to change any process . The most basic form of participation, and the one that gets the most respect from elected officials, DA’s and Judges, entails voting,” Says Attorney Watson. The Texas legislator will convene on January 13, 2014 under the leadership of a new governor for the first time in this millennium. Governor-elect Greg Abbott as the former Attorney General never questioned, or challenged the grand jury selection system. “I’ve got my work cut out for me,” says Senator Whitmire. Our District Attorney (Devon Anderson of Harris County) has already stated that if she were still on the bench as a judge, she would use the random selection process. (That) is a first step toward paving the way for bi-partisan support of the effort. Story By: DeWayne Charleston, Managing Editor

Texas • December 29, 2014 - January 4, 2015

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A Celebration of Family, Community & Culture

K

wanzaa is a week long holiday honoring the culture and traditions of people of African origin. Falling bewteen December 26th and January 1st of the new year, it is celebrated by people from a range of African countries and their descendants. Kwanzaa consists of a week of celebrations, which ends with a feast and the exchange of gifts. During the celebrations, candles are lit and libations are poured. A libation is the name given to a ritual pouring of a drink as an offering to a god. During Kwanzaa, a wooden unity cup is used to pour the libations. A Kwanzaa ceremony often also includes performance of music

and drumming, a reflection on the Pan-African colors of red, green and Black and a discussion of some aspect of African history. Women often wear brightly colored traditional clothing. Some cultural organizations hold special exhibitions of African influenced art or performances during the period of the celebrations. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in December 1966 and January 1967. The holiday was proposed by Maulana Karenga to give those of African descent a holiday to celebrate their own cultural heritage and the key values of family and community. Although seen as an alternative to Christmas and thus possibly anti-Christian in the early

Another Officer Cleared after Unarmed Shooting of Young Black Male

HOUSTON – Police brutality and incidents of the careless shootings and murders of young Black males have swept across the nation, through the usage of various media outlets in recent months. From the unarmed shooting of 18-yearold Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri to the unlawful chokehold placed on 43-year-old Eric Garner in New York; the continual rise of deadly slayings of unarmed Black males remains as a topic of discussion in several social networking sites as well as in the media. Not only have talk of these fatal tragedies consumed a great deal of platforms, throughout this year but the fact that the authorities who have been charged in these deaths are not convicted or found guilty of the crimes. Now here in Houston, there has been a great commotion amongst members of the Black communities due to the injustices that are constantly being imposed upon its members. Leaders have united together on a massive scale to rally and protest the continual blatant disregard of young Black unarmed males that are consistently losing their lives on an

years, many people now observe aspects of both festivals. In 1997 and 2004, the United States Postal Service honored Kwanzaa by issuing stamps depicting an aspect of the festival. In 1997, the stamp was designed by Synthia Saint James and showed an African-American family observing the celebrations. In 2004, the stamp was designed by Daniel Minter and shows seven figures representing the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa gained popularity quite quickly. It is now estimated that about 13 percent of African-Americans (nearly five million people) celebrate the festival in some way.

enormous scale. Thus local citizens, political activists, ministers, friends and family members of Jordan Baker recently congregated together to share their compassion and support for his family. The circumstances surrounding the death of unarmed 26-year-old Jordan Baker were initiated on Houston’s Northwest side. An off duty police officer by the name of Juventino Castro shot Jordan in an alley behind a strip complex located on Antoine and West Little York. According to reports the officer Deric Muhammad, Rene, Jordan Jr & Community reportedly believed that Jordan, matched the description of a rob- Mourn at the lost and unjustice doings of the killing of 26 year old Jordan Baker by HPD officer Juvento Castro bery suspect who had previously force. Nevertheless, just last week targeted this particular location. the grand jury made a decision not to Police reports reveal that Officer convict the officer for the fatal shootCastro admitted to a brief altercation which led to a foot chase between the ing of Baker. Prayer vigils, marches for justice, rallies and protests have two men into the alley where Baker already begun and are set in place lost his life. The officer alleges that to continue in the near future at an the incident was incited because he attempt to allow the voices of the asked Baker to produce some form members of the community to be of identification, which led to the heard. chase. He continued to allege that Story by: Rebecca S. Jones he was charged at by Baker and that Photo Credit: Mayra Beltan/Houston was the cause for him using deadly Chronicle

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HOUSTON - AfricanAmerican News&Issues presents, Burnett Jackson owner of Burnett’s Package Express. Burnett Jackson hails from Kilgore, Texas. She moved to Houston in 1957. After completing high school, she attended Texas Southern University. She worked as a manager at Hartz Fried Foods and worked in the Accounting department of the Hyatt Regency. She also worked for a delivery company for a year. Equipped with a various array of skill sets acquired from her previous work experience, she was encouraged by a friend to go into business for herself. Jackson was no stranger to working hard and operating in the professional arena. So in March of 1987 she established Burnett’s Package Express. She started the business off with just one employee and throughout the course of three decades, her staff has expanded to a number of over 35 employees. In a field completely dominated by men, she has definitely made her mark in history and stands out as a business owner. During an interview, Jackson explained that she has had her fair share of ups and downs, as it relates to owning and operating her own business. She recalled a time when she went to apply for a business loan at a financial institution. Upon sitting down to get the procedure started, she remembered that the first words out of the loan officer’s mouth were, “You have A-1 Credit!” However, apparently that was not enough. As it was, Ms. Jackson may have had all of the required prerequisites with the exception that she was not the right color, nor gender. Although she was not able to secure the loan by the means of the way that she intended to, she was still able to get a

Burnett Jackson

loan by putting her home up for collateral. Jackson went on to share that throughout the years she has encountered numerous incidents, especially being a Black woman. Nevertheless, she has not allowed any of the obstacles or detours to slow her down from operating as a successful entrepreneur. She rests assured that her faith in God and her volition are the motivating forces that keep her going, from day to day. She finds that being a “hands-on” Chief Executive Officer works best for her and benefits her company the most. Though she works just as hard as her employees out in the field, she still manages to take the time to monitor the company’s customer service effectiveness. She expressed, “Making sure that customers are satisfied is a top-priority.” That is why, “developing enduring customer relationships is a primary objective” said Jackson. To that regard, it is of no surprise that she is a leader in the industry of which she operates which includes: courier, 1 hour, local and state-wide hotshot and messenger services, Hazmat and same day delivery.

Shirley Morning Worship Ann’s elimination. Other schools would 10:45 a.m. Black Call 713-692-1892 Evening BibleKollectibles Class be Smith, Stovall, Harris and Hill, 5:00 p.m. For more information shouldStuall based on theThis same criteria. Evening Worship & Flowers 6:00 p.m. dents of magnetbe programs that yourreturn Ad!had Carriers needed! Chorus Group Rehearsal 713-692-1100 been eliminated would to 7:30 p.m. Media Kit 6130 Wheatley St. Call 832-816-4253 their home campus and given first BEAUTY SHOP Wednesday Houston, MINISTER: Mid-Week Bible ClassTX 77091 available at priority for available slots in other for more information Theaster Maloy, Sr. 7:00 p.m. NATURAL magnet programs, withKREATIONS the excepFUNERAL HOME www.aframnews.com Earn up to $200/week OFFICE: 713/674-5131 Melanie Malonson tion of 4th grade students, who 140 Fidelity Rd. Houston Tx 77029 will be given the option of continu281-898-4716 HUNTING Boyd Funeral Home 11718 South Wilcrest ing at Houston Academy. Staff will FIFTH WARD CHURCH OF CHRIST Houston, TX 77099 281-445-0971 be placed into vacant positions on RS DEER & 7411 Wheatley St. other campuses. SUNDAY Office Assistant BLACK CHAMBER Houston, TX 77088 CATTLE RANCH The order would have given the 8:00 a.m. Worship needed! Whitetail, Axis, & magnet program a protected status 10:00 a.m. Bible Class Acres Homes Chamber Call 713-692-1892 Blackbuck Deer and funds for from the government 11:15 a.m. Worship Johnson Funeral Home Business & Eco. Dev. Hunt All Year Round For more information would have been provided for their 6:00 p.m. Worship 713-747-9604 www.rsdeerranch.com operation. Also, 713-692-7161 several events and MONDAY 5730 Calhoun Rd. 6112 Wheatley St items were reduced or eliminat10:00 a.m. BURNETT’S PACKAGE 979-921-9908 Houston, TX 77021 Gary Smith Houston,festival TX 77091 and ed, such as the magnet Ladies Bible Class E XPRESS Minister technology fair. The proposed cuts WEDNESDAY PHOTOGRAPHY SALES CONSULTANT NEEDED! were approved CHEMICAL by district trust7:30 p.m. Bible Class for all TO SCHEDULE AN ees at the January 25 school board CREATIVE COLOURS BY RJ meeting before a packed house of INTERVIEW CALL Website Funeral Home, Inc. 713-734-1442 www.fthwardcoc.org incensed parents and student. But 713-633-1492 713-631 - 5547 4925 Richfield Lane Citywide Chemical Bamberg warns the cuts may still “GIVING, GROWING, GAINING”9402 "Committed to the &Future" Janitorial & Commercial Houston, Tx 77048 4308 Stonewall St. Hou. not be enough meet the needs Lockwood Dr. Tx 77020 PesttoControl Company 713-672-2654 of the nation’s 12th largest district. 3521 Jensen St. Houston,Texas 77016 SHOE REPAIR Houston, TX 77026 In addition to their other activities, the Administrators say they still need 713/227-4808 or 4809 Fifth Ward COC also holds a Bible $18 million to balance Janitorial the budget. Supplies MIGHTY FINE SHOE REPAIR Class for non-members on Thursday Loving Memories Sales-Service-Supplies nights at 7:30 PM. For more informa“The only way we’re going to Men & Ladies - Boots & Shoes Wholesale-Retail tion onNorman the various special events or Wynn’s activities you really&should visit their get additional revenue at point Shined, Waxed, Glazed, Wethis repair buffers, website, it is very well done, informative vacuum, shampooers is to look to the community, ” said 281-820-7070 Dyed & Repaired and worth a visit even if you have anothand all other machines. er church home. Charles to the need for Bamberg, alluding 281-448-9255 To continue reading visit us norm_ant@yahoo.com SAME DAY FREE DELIVERY Dawson increased property revenue, mfshoes@aol.com US METRO tax Dawson online @ www.aframnews.com Chemical 8011 W. Montgomery Rd Major Credit Cards ACCEPTED which could beChemical as much as 13 cents Photo and Story by: CHURCH OF GOD Houston, Tx 77088 1400 South Victory Houston, TX 77088 per $100 value of property.713/697-7137 713/633-9019 Rebecca S. Jones IN CHRIST Ed.- Last week’s story, provided whom support you! Read us online www.aframnews.com The #1 100% Black-Owned Worldwide Digital News Source inaccurate demographics for Support AISD. those DUNCAN MEMORIAL The correct numbers are 68.2 perCHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST HOU-627 percent Africancent Hispanic, Sr. Pastor Elder Greg Edwards American, 2.2 percent White. 9:30 a.m.

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What’s Happenin’ Thursday 31 Wednesday 12 Arena Theatre Houston 8 Rickey Smiley & Friends

Texas • December 29, 2014 - January 4, 2015

December

Dec 29 - Jan 4

Monday - Sunday TXU Energy presents ZOO Lights 6200 Hermann Park Dr.. Houston, TX 77030 Beginning at 6pm For more info contact: (713) 533-6500 Monday Shape Community Ctr Jordan Baker March for Justice 3903 Almeda Rd Houston, TX 770004 Beginning at 1:30pm For more info contact: (713)521 - 0629 Wednesday Cliffdale BC Watch Mtg Night Service 854 Enterprise St Houston, TX 77088 From 8pm - 10pm For more info contact: (281) 447-8850

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7326 Southwest. Frwy Houston, TX 77074 Beginning at 8pm For more info contact: (713) 772-5900 Wednesday Galilee Baptist Church N Motion Dance Explosion 6616 D.S. Bailey Ln Houston, TX 77091 From 8pm - 9pm For more info contact: (713) 697-1758 Wednesday Galilee Baptist Church Watch Meet Svc 6616 D.S. Bailey Ln Houston, TX 77091 From 10pm - 11pm For more info contact: (713) 697-1758

January 2015

This should be your Event!

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Wednesday 2015 H-Town Countdown 2000 Edwards St. Houston, TX 77oo7 Beginning at 9pm For more info contact: (409) 781-7979

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Wenesday Heart of Faith Church Watch Mtg Service Black Tie Semi Formal Gala 12275 Homestead Rd Houston, TX 77050 Beginning at 9:30pm For more info contact: (281) 590-1124 Wednesday New Beginnings International Church Humble Praise Ctr New Years Extravaganza 2325 Atascosita Rd Ste B Humble, TX 77396 Beginning at 10:30pm For more info contact: (281) 446 -2608

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Monday Memorial Park Tomorrow Moody Park Community Center 3725 Fulton St Houston, TX 77009 From 6:30pm -8:30pm For more info contact: (713) 224-9115

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www.memorialparktomorrow.org

Guest Speaker Steve Stephens AMEGY Bank President and CEO

Acres Home Chamber for Business & Economic Development, Inc. Networking Luncheon 6112 Wheatley St Houston, TX 77091 From 11am -12:30pm For more info contact: Anthony Stewart (713) 692-7161

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info@acreshomecenter.org

Thursday KCOH RADIO Houston Justice January Mtg 5011 Almeda Rd. Houston, TX 77004 From 6:30pm - 8:30pm For more info contact: (713) 522 - 1001 Friday Universal Elite Aerospace U.S. Navy & Marine Corps Helicopter “Fly In” 9000 Randolph St Houston, TX 77061 Beginning at 12pm For more info contact:

3 Tuesday 9 First Metropolitan Church

New Years Pneuma Experience 2015 8870 W. Sam Houston Pkwy N Houston, TX 77040 Beginning at 6pm For more info contact: (281) 889-3330

Jan 5 - Jan 7

Monday - Wednesday “When God Brings You Full Circle” Impact Kingdom Center 6811 Bellfort St. Houston, Texas 77087 Beginning @ 7:30pm For more info contact: (713) 644-5161 Wednesday Galilee Baptist Church Bible Study 6616 D.S. Bailey Ln Houston, TX 77091 For more info contact: (713) 697-1758

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African

(832) 455-0063

Email Your Upcoming Events to: news@aframnews.com

4 weeks in advance!

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Sunday Universal Elite Aerospace U.S. Navy & Marine Corps Helicopter “Fly In” 9000 Randolph St Houston, TX 77061 Beginning at 12pm For more info contact: (832) 455-0063

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Tuesday Consciousness Raising Speaker: Monica Villarreal 2521 Holman St Houston, TX 77004 From 6:30pm - 8:00pm For more info contact: (713) 526-7662

Jan 17 - Jan 19

Saturday - Monday 21st MLK Grande Parade MLK Youth Parade San Jacinto St & Elgin St Beginning @ 12pm 14Th Annual MLK Battle Of The Bands Houston’s Rice Stadium Beginning @ 4:00PM “The Color Of Unity” Parade San Jacinto St& Elgin St Beginning @ 10am For more info contact: (713) 953-1633 www.mlkgrandeparade.org

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Saturday Shrine of the Black Madonna After Protest: Economic and Political Strategies with Dr Claud Anderson 5309 MLK Blvd Houston, TX 77021 Beginning 6pm For more info contact: (832) 408-1071 Saturday Acres Home Chamber for Business & Economic Development, Inc. Digital Computer Class 6112 Wheatley St Houston, TX 77091 From 10am -12pm For more info contact: Anthony Stewart (713) 692-7161

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17 Saturday NRG

Monster Jam 1 Reliant Pkwy Houston, TX 77054 From 7pm - 11pm For more info contact: www.monsterjam.com

17 Saturday Universal Elite

Aerospace MLK Weekend Aviation Trip 8325 Travel Air Houston, TX 77061 Beginning at 12pm For more info contact:

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(832) 455-0063

Saturday Universal Elite Aerospace MLK Weekend Aviation Trip 8325 Travel Air Houston, TX 77061 Beginning at 12pm For more info contact:

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(832) 455-0063

Saturday Bayou Music Ctr Chris Tucker in Concert 520 Texas St Houston, TX 77002 From 7pm - 9:30pm For more info contact: (713) 230 - 1600

www.livenation.com

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Sunday Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra MLK Musical Concert 4036 Lyons Ave Houston, TX 77020 Beginning at 4pm For more info contact: 713-523-9710 Sunday National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ) Justice Sunday Program Progressive New Hope BC 3106 Paige St. Houston, TX 77004 Beginning at 10am For more info contact: 713-523-6115

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Jan 24 - Jan 25 Saturday - Sunday Houston Exotic Reptile & Pet Show Lone Star Convention Ctr 9055 Airport Rd Conroe,TX 77303 Beginning at 10am For more info contact: www.herpshow.net

24 Saturday Lady Media Cole

Avery & Andre M. James An Evening of Songs 6719 W. Montgomery Rd Houston, TX 77091 Beginning at 7pm For more info contact: (713) 290-8030 Saturday Projet Row Houses Knight + Knight: Latencies 2310 Elgin St Houston, TX 77004 From 7pm - 9pm For more info contact: (713) 526-7662 Sunday An Evening with Urgency and Trinity 5050 Griggs Rd. Houston, TX 77021 From 6:15pm For more info visit:

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www.destine2shinerecords.com

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Sunday Gtr Zion MBC God’s Grace Community Church Pastor & Wife Appreciation 1620 Dollywright St Houston, TX 77088 Beginning at 3pm For more info visit: (713) 290-8030

Jan 29 - Feb 22 Thursday - Monday The Ensemble Theater presents Stageplay, Fly 3535 Main St. Houston, TX 77002 Call for Showtimes For more info contact: (713) 520-0055

boxoffice@ensemblehouston.com HOU-7

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American News&Issues

RELIGION from Page 1 Ultimately, he reverences work throughout the sanctuary since his tenure as pastor. He his father as one of the shared that he is privileged most influential indito have a gallery of loyal viduals in his life that has family members and dedicated parishioners to assist contributed to the person in furthering the deliverance that he has become today. of ensuring that the gospel of Equivalent to young Christ is continuously going Timothy who was the Apostle forth, by leaps and bounds. Paul's son in the ministry that Pastor Giles acknowledged he encouraged to,“stir up the several key members that gift”; Giles was also equipped have been with him since he with his own personal mentor first assumed his role as pasin the person of Pastor S.B. tor. Amongst that number are Parker. He expressed that it his brothers, who are also his was Pastor Parker who saw deacons: Nathaniel (Gwen) something within him. “He and Michael Ray Giles along told me that the Lord had a with his secretary, Mrs. Lydia work for me” Giles revealed. Scott Collins. He described Accordingly, he took those Pastor Joseph Baker of the words and meditated on them Guiding Light Inspirational and in 1985 he confessed his Baptist Church, as his mencalling into the ministry. He tor in the ministry. His brother, was ordained some time later Pastor Murphy Giles has by Pastor S.B. Parker. Since been a great influence to him that time, Giles has been ever since he was a child, as spreading the good news of he is a pastor in Shreveport, Christ to those that he has the LA. His brother-in-law and opportunity to come in contact sister, Pastor Archie and with. One of his key scriptures Warrien Hayward of Refuge is found in the 1st chapter and Tabernacle have also been a 18th verse of Isaiah which great aid to him down through states,“Come now, and let the years. us reason together, saith the In an era where FM 1960 LORD: though your sins be as was the place that everybody scarlet, they shall be as white was moving to, Giles took adas snow; though they be red vantage of the opportunity to like crimson, they shall be as build a home in Acres Homes. wool.” He rests assured that it is one From this experience of his golden accomplishhe went on to attend Union ments that he is proud of. In Baptist Bible School and 1985 he was able to build a Seminary, Inc. located on 2,000 square feet brick house Chew Street in 5th Ward. He on 1 ½ acres of land, from was taught and instructed the ground up. He vividly by great teachers of which recollected the process just as he still uses the lessons that it was during the time that he they taught him to guide his began to build it. Pastor Giles life and ministry by until this made mention of several indiday. A few of those teachers viduals who played an integral were: Rev. Lafayette Chaney part of making his vision a (who was the president of the success. A few of those names school), Rev. E. Lewis and include: Charlie Collins (an Rev. Emmett Thompson. uncle who donated him a Rev. Giles was called Craftsman saw to assist with to pastor House of Prayer the building), Harrison (who Missionary Baptist Church bought a window), Roberta in 1996. Since that time, it has Kelly (an aunt that helped remained a bible-believing with the finishing of the roof), and pastor teaching institution. Mattie Moore (mother-inGiles has done remodeling law), Debra Love Moore TX-8

Religion

(Sister-in-law who dropped off $25 in the mailbox) and John Henry Roberson (stepfather who was always so very encouraging). Over the years, Pastor Giles has worked in a plethora of industries. He has worked for the Houston Livestock and Rodeo for over ten years, shining shoes. In 1971, he secured employment at Daniel Industry. There he started out as a porter, worked the drill press and was eventually promoted to becoming a machinist. It was during this time that he remembers there was a White man by the name of John Stewart, who left quite an impression upon him. He told him one day that, “All me are not the same.” Giles stated that, that one statement has always stuck with him. He declares that Mr. Stewart helped him to increase his knowledge in the machine industry and other areas. Pastor Giles has been considering running for public office in the near future. He shared that he has a sincere desire to help the youth within the community. He said, “We have to make sure that these children leave school with the necessary tools needed to succeed in life.” He continued, “Classes like auto mechanics, forklift driving and other trades and skills should be offered in our school system; especially for those children that have no plan of continuing on to a community or traditional school”. He believes that providing children with the essential tools to secure a trade in some form of industry is pertinent to the youth succeeding as well as cutting down on the young Black race imprisonment. In reference to his own community of over 60 years, Giles remembers seeing the first street light go up, the city water connected with the Acres Homes community and so many other improvements down throughout the

Texas • December 29, 2014 - January 4, 2015

In Loving Memory of Ruby Mae Turner

HOUSTON - Ruby Mae Turner, mother of Houston State Representative Sylvester Turner, passed away at the age of 90 early Sunday morning, December 21, 2014. Ruby Turner was born in Washington County on August 12, 1924. She grew up in Washington County where she married Eddie Turner who was also from Washington County. They moved to the Acres Homes community, Garden City Park, in 1954, buying the house where they raised nine children and where she lived until her death. Eddie Turner passed in 1968, and that is when Ruby Turner became the “Captain of the Ship”. She continued to nurture and raise her children, attended to the needs of each and everyone of them and made sure all of their needs were met. Though she had no formal education, she was the active and legal guardian of two of her sons and handled

all of their medical and financial affairs until her health started to decline. For many years prior to her husband’s death she worked at the Old Rice Hotel in Downtown Houston and continue to do so for a short period of time after his death often time taking the bus to work after getting her kids ready for school. She was a faithful housewife and an incredible Mom. After moving to Houston, Eddie and Ruby Turner united with Magnolia Missionary Baptist Church in Acres Homes. They moved their membership to New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Northeast Houston. After her husband died in 1968, Ruby became a member of Mt. Ararat Missionary Baptist Church in Acres Homes. Ruby Turner was fiercely independent and possessed a strong constitution. She never learned how to drive but she miraculously was able to get her children where they needed to be either by bus, cab, a relative or friend. Irrespective of who provided the transportation, she insisted that you accept payment for assisting her or her children. 3005 Stallings was her home until her passing. It was and remained the place where family members gathered on any special Holiday. She was devoted to her home and especially to the two sons who lived with her. Even when the home was undergoing major

renovation, she adamantly refused to leave her home. The contractors were forced to reconstruct the home in several phases to enable her to stay there throughout the renovations. 3005 Stallings was her home, her castle and her place of refuge. She suffered for a number of years from Alzheimer’s. As her memory faded, she held on to her name. If you asked her, what is your name she would look at you and proudly say, “Ruby Turner”. If you sang her favorite song, she would join with you, “This Little Light of Mine, I’m Going to Let it Shine”. Her doctors recommended she be put in hospice care six years ago. Her children elected to take her home. Six years later on August 12, 2014, she celebrated her 90th birthday. God gave her favor and blessed her entire family. Ruby Turner was the last of seven siblings. She leaves behind nine children from the union with Eddie Turner: Pearlie Marie Tyrone, Leon (Mike) Turner and his wife Linda, Alfred (Charles) Turner, Patricia Turner, Clifford Turner, Sylvester Turner, Robert Turner, Jacqueline Turner, and Donald Ray Turner; two children from Eddie’s first marriage-Madie Thompson and Everett Turner; and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, nieces , nephews and countless friends.

years has he seen. However, he exclaimed, “Even though we have come a long way, I just don't believe that we have come far enough.” Pastor Giles is thankful for his wife of 35 years Lady Patricia Giles who has been very active and supportive throughout his ministry. He is the father of two children, Jennifer and Jesus

Giles. He also has six grand children: the late Jacoree Giles and Destinee, Jacobee, Jmahbre, Jesus and Jhori Giles. The House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church is located at 3521 DeSoto St. 77091. Worship times for the church are Sunday: Sunday School, 9-10am and Morning Worship service is

11am-12:30pm. For more information about the church or to inquire about upcoming events contact the church at (281) 773-2750.

Mrs. Ruby Mae Turner

Story By: Rebecca Jones Front Cover Photo Credit: Chandra Jarmon

MEMBER

Texas • December 29, 2014 - January 4, 2015

AUSTIN - For most Americans, Texas conjures images of gun-toting vaqueros, cowboys wielding six-shooters and epic battles over independence and secession. Gun manufacturers Colt, Mossberg and Magpul call the Lone Star State home, and a concealed carry license grants you a fast-pass into the state Capitol.

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www.aframnews.com CONROE - This year’s Light of Hope Foster Care Legacy Award will go to Michael Gundling at the Montgomery County Light Up the Night Gala event on New Year’s Eve, benefiting children in Child Protective Services. The celebration will be held from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday at La Torretta Resort and Spa in Montgomery. Gundling, 24, was adopted by a Caucasian family who lived in Friendswood, outside of Houston. “I was in foster care for five years,” said Gundling who was adopted in 1995. Currently, he is a youth and college minister at South Plains Church near Lubbock. “My two brothers and I were the first African Americans to be adopted by Caucasians through the state of Texas,” Gundling said. Gundling will receive the Foster Care Legacy Award for his accomplishments since being in the foster care system. “We were always in church,” said Gundling who felt called into ministry after going on a mission trip to Mexico. He graduated from high school after being homeschooled and left home to attend Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, where he graduated in 2012.

DALLAS - A Planned Parenthood in Dallas has built an 8-foot concrete wall around the clinic to stop pro-life protesters who have been speaking against the abortion clinic on a regular basis. Rev. Stephen Broden, one of the leading voices against Planned Parenthood, has urged other pro-life activists to keep speaking out about the clinic.

DALLAS - As Texas retailers see a stream of shoppers checking items off their Christmas lists, lower gasoline prices and a growing state economy are among factors fueling forecasts that consumers here are spending more this holiday season. “We are expecting a good, strong season,” said Ronnie Volkening, president of the Texas Retailers Association, who said he expects the state to do even better than the upbeat national prediction. The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, is forecasting sales nationwide to rise 4.1 percent for the holiday season — November and December. That’s higher than last year’s 3.1 percent increase for the same time period. Volkening said he expects Texas, with its strong economy, to see an even better percentage increase, possibly a rise of 5 percent to 6 percent over last year. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts said that as of October, the latest month available, the state has had 56 consecutive months of increased sales tax revenues. For November 2013, Texas had sales tax revenue of about $2.3 billion, up about 4 percent from the year before. In December 2013, Texas had sales tax revenues of $2.3 billion, up 8.3 percent from the year before.

Texas Round- Up GALVESTON – County commissioners threw down a gauntlet Tuesday, voting to end a contract allowing the city of Galveston to house municipal prisoners in the county jail. Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to end the contract in June 2015. The agreement specifies that either side must give 180 days notice before officially ending the agreement.

LEAGUE CITY - A new sports stadium, additional high school gyms and a state-of-the-art remodel of Clear Creek High School are all in the works for Clear Creek Independent School District as part of a $367 million package of renovations and upgrades that will help the district keep up with the flood of new students enrolling. The school district has grown faster than anticipated, with 700 new students joining in 2014 and nearly 700 new homes built and closed on in the second quarter of 2014. The Mar Bella subdivision, near Mossman Elementary School, and the Hidden Lakes subdivision, close to Goforth Elementary School, are growing the fastest, a district demographic report found. NAVASOTA - Tren’Davian Dickson caught two of his four touchdown passes in overtime, and Navasota beat Argyle 42-35 to win the Class 4A Division I championship at AT&T Stadium. Dickson, a junior who already has orally committed to ply at Baylor, extended his national record to 39 touchdown catches this season. Shelton Eppler established a Texas seasonr ecord of 71 touchdowns passes with his four to Dickson. The Rattlers finished the season undefeated at 16-0.

PORT ARTHUR - Port Arthur Police Chief Mark Blanton has publicly voice his opposition to swelling legislative momentum allowing members of the general public to carry firearms. The chief fears the city, which has a higher Black population than any other ethnic demographic in the city, will have a heavy burden placed on its police officers when citizens start calling in reports of person they see carrying weapons. At least six bills have been filed in the Texas legislature that would allow Texans to openly carry handguns, and Greg Abbott, the incoming governor has already promised his support for the measures.

Great News!

African-American News&Issues now offers E-Blast to over 20,000 business professionals and community subcribers for a very low price. Let us promote your next event! For more information contact (713) 692-1892 or visit www.aframnews.com SAN ANTONIO - Black San Antonio mayor, Ivy Taylor recently held a news conference asking for a “truce” between the city and unions representing fire fighters and law enforcement officers. The city had filed a lawsuit against the unions over collective bargaining, at about the same time the unions began running ads denouncing the cities overpaid”bureaucrats”. Mayor Taylor was appointed in July of this year to replace former Mayor Juian Castro, who joined the cabinet of President Barack Obama.

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SAN ANTONIO - San Antonio Public Library and Carver Community Cultural Center officials have invited Democratic political strategist, professor and columnist Donna Brazile to kick off Black History Month on January 22 at 7:15 p.m. at the Carver’s Jo Long Theatre. The event is free but guests will need to reserve a ticket at http://donnab.brownpapertickets.com/

TYLER - After an extensive search and hours of going through applications, the City of Tyler decided to hire Edward Broussard as the new city manager. Broussard is an ICMA credentialed manager with more than 19 years of local government experience and currently serves as the city manager of Missouri City, Texas. He served as city manager of Hutto, Texas from 2005-2011, city manager of Navasota, Texas from 2001-2005, assistant city manager of Woodway, Texas from 2000 to 2001, assistant to the city manager of College Station, Texas from 1997 to 2000, and as a management assistant for the Lubbock City-County Library from 1996 to 1997. Broussard also served as an administrative intern for the City of Lubbock Human Resources Department from 1995 to 1996. He holds a Masters of Public Administration from Texas Tech University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Texas A&M University. City Council members said it was a very long process that took months. They hired a professional firm that specialized in city manager searches. Mayor Martin Heines said Broussard was a standout when they narrowed the applicants from 50 to 13. Broussard will start Feb. 9, 2105.

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What’s Happenin’ around Texas? Submit your news to news@aframnews.com WALLER - Incoming Waller County leaders are pledging more transparency in the wake of a jury’s verdict that sitting county commissioners illegally discussed a contentious landfill project in closeddoor sessions and in private with the project’s developer. Duhon was one of three landfill opponents elected to the commissioners court in November – elections that followed victories by two other landfill opponents in 2012, John Amsler and Jeron Barnett. Come January, landfill opponents will have a majority on the commissioners court. While the outgoing county judge and commissioners maintained they had little choice but to agree to host the 250acre landfill just outside the city of Hempstead, a county jury found after a threeweek trial that the panel’s majority had violated the state’s Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act on multiple occasions. Incoming commissioners say they plan not only to step up the fight against the landfill but to change the way that the county does business.

WACO - It has taken eight years to get the bronze longhorns rounded up for their approach to the Waco Suspension Bridge, but the last two of 25 longhorn cattle and a Black cowboy took their places Tuesday at the end of their Indian Spring Park herd, completing the “Branding the Brazos” sculpture project.

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Educati n/Y uth

CY FAIR ISD - Cypress Ridge High School junior Jessica Davis created the winning holiday ornament to represent Texas District 138 and State Rep. Dwayne Bohac on the 2014 Lone Star Celebration Christmas Tree in the State Capitol. Davis is an avid dancer as well as a musician; she learned to play the piano three years ago simply by watching another person, and plays by ear. BIO School: Cypress Ridge High School Age: 16 Grade: 11 Accomplishments: Winning holiday ornament representing District 138 on 2014 Lone Star Celebration Christmas Tree; plays piano;

participates in dance. Favorite class: Dance. “I’ve had a love for dance since I was 4 years old. I have learned so much from it and want to continue dancing.” Favorite things to do after class: Play the piano, draw and be active. Favorite song: Here With Us by Joy Williams Favorite website: Pinterest. “It gives you a lot of ideas, and I love being creative.” Favorite TV show: Total Divas. “I have been watching WWE for the longest time and I would love to become a diva.” Favorite movie: Dumb and Dumber. “It is a very funny movie and I love all Jim

Carrey movies.” Ambition: “I want to graduate from high school and attend Texas A&M, major in Kinesiology and become a dance teacher.” What topics/things are you passionate about? “I am very passionate about music. I love making music. Texas A&M is my favorite university (Whoop!). I love playing Für Elise by Ludwig Beethoven on the piano.” What inspires you? “Dance inspires me in many ways. It keeps me fit and active. Dance is more than it seems: I dance when I am sad, happy and mad. It helps me express myself.” What three things can’t you live without? God, dance and music. What are you most looking forward to this semester? “I am mostly looking forward to the talent show. I love seeing how much raw talent our school has.”

“Ike” Theater Students Advance to Nationals

D’mon Williams & Keanna Lee

ALDINE ISD - Eisenhower High School theater students attended the Texas State Thespian Festival in November. The event took place at the Dallas Convention Center and Omni Hotel. Texas Thespians is one of the largest chapters in the nation of the Educational Theatre Association. Each year, Texas TX-10

Thespians holds a statewide festival, open to any active Texas Thespian Troupe. Texas Thespian State Festival (TTSF) is filled with workshops, stage performances and competitions. This year, two Eisenhower High School students advanced to nationals in the following event: Duet Acting — Keanna

Lee & D’mon Williams with a scene from “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry It is also worth mentioning that Jazmyne Bledsoe, Yarely Guerra and Roinicia Harris’ group acting scene received good marks. They performed a scene from A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. The festival also gave students an opportunity to audition for colleges. Although Yarely Guerra didn’t get a scholarship, she found the experience valuable. Yarely who is a senior intends to major in theater arts. “This was a great opportunity,” said Yarely. “I had the chance to network with several different universities. I also gained insight from college students and educators in my field of interest.”

Support OUR Texas HBCUs! If WE don’t, then who will?

CFISD STUDENT HIGHLIGHT: Jessica Davis

Texas • December 29, 2014 - January 4, 2015

Welcome to PVAMU

Prairie View A&M new head coach “Willie Simmons”

PRAIRIE VIEW - Renowned offensive coordinator Willie Simmons has been selected as the 32nd head football coach in Prairie View A&M history on December 16, 2014. Simmons comes to Prairie View A&M after an impressive three-year stint as the offensive coordinator at Alcorn State, which recently won the SWAC and SBN Black College National Championships. With Simmons on staff, Alcorn State fielded one of the most potent offenses in the country as they led the SWAC in seven offensive categories while also finishing second in the nation amongst Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams in scoring offense with 44 points per game during the 2014 season. Alcorn State quarterback John Gibbs, Jr. flourished in Simmons' offense as he was named SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year while breaking several long-standing records held by ASU legend and former NFL standout Steve "Air" McNair. In addition to Gibbs' accolades, ASU had four players who rushed for at least 691 yards and a balanced wide receiving corps which featured four players catching 22-plus receptions. In Simmons' second season at Alcorn State in 2013, the Braves had a major turnaround offensively from his first season as they finished second in total offense, second in scoring offense, third in rushing

offense, fourth in pass offense and third in pass efficiency. Three offensive players earned All-SWAC honors with senior Arnold Walker having a career season as he led the SWAC in rushing yards (1,191) and rushing touchdowns (16). Walker also finished as ASU's all-time rushing leader and the Braves finished 9-3 and had their first winning season since 2006 and nine-win campaign since 1984. Prior to Alcorn State, Simmons spent five seasons at Middle Tennessee State University and was a part of history as MTSU had its most successful run during his tenure. As one of the newest members in the Football Bowl Subdivision (former Division I) level at the time, the Blue Red Raiders made two consecutive postseason bowl appearances for the first time in school history (2008 and 2009) and set an MTSU FBS-record with 10 wins in 2009. In 2011, Simmons was named offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State as he was one of the youngest coordinators in the nation at only 30 years old. During that season, the Blue Raider offense led the Sun Belt in total offense and rushing offense, while ranking second in passing offense and scoring. Before being elevated to the role of offensive coordinator, Simmons served as running backs coach and passing game coordinator at MTSU from 2007 to 2010.

Texas • December 29, 2014 - January 4, 2015

Life Style

Stalking: Obsession Without A Pause

A

ccording to VictimsOfCrime. org, 7.5 million people are stalked in one year in the United States. Over 85% of stalking victims are stalked by someone they know. 46% of stalking victims experience at least one unwanted contact per week. Stalking is defined as any unwanted or obsessive attention by an individual or group toward another person. Stalking behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person or monitoring them (Wikipedia). This January commemorates the National Stalking Awareness Month where millions will be hosting events, sharing information, testimonies and petitioning for stronger laws against the act that is considered to be another form of domestic abuse as well as terrorism. What many don't realize is that stalking happens far too frequently among both males and females. According to The Stalking Resource Center, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 13 men reported being a victim of stalking in their lifetime. To bring more clarity as to how this is possible, there are various forms of stalking and types of stalkers that one may not be aware of, thus leaving

avenues unchecked to protect oneself against the crime that is considered a felony in some states. Psychologists often group individuals who stalk into two categories: psychotic and non-psychotic. Stalkers may have pre-existing psychotic disorders such as delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, or schizophrenia. Most stalkers are non-psychotic. The non-psychotic stalkers' pursuit of victims can be influenced by various psychological factors, including anger, hostility, projection of blame, obsession, dependency, minimization, denial and jealousy (Wikipedia). In "A Study of Stalkers" Dr. Paul E. Mullen identified five types of stalkers: 1. Rejected stalkers pursue their victims in order to reverse, correct, or avenge a rejection (e.g. divorce, separation, termination). 2. Resentful stalkers pursue a vendetta because of a sense of grievance against the victims – motivated mainly by the desire to frighten and distress the victim. 3. Intimacy seekers seek to establish an intimate, loving relationship with

their victim. Such stalkers often believe that the victim is a long-sought-after soul mate, and they were 'meant' to be together. 4. Incompetent suitors, despite poor social or courting skills, have a fixation, or in some cases, a sense of entitlement to an intimate relationship with those who have attracted their amorous interest. Their victims are most often already in a dating relationship with someone else. 5. Predatory stalkers spy on the victim in order to prepare and plan an attack – often sexual – on the victim. According to Dr. Mullen, stalkers have a range of motivations, from reasserting power over a partner who rejected them to the quest for a loving relationship. Most stalkers are lonely and socially incompetent, but all have the capacity to frighten and distress their victims. Although stalking can happen to anyone at any age, those between the ages of 18-24 are at higher risks of experiencing stalking abuse. Many also do not consider stalking a form of abuse, but as a sign that the perpetrator "really cares" or is "just worried" about the target. During a live Twitter-view conducted under the hashtag #Wounds2Wisdom on November 25, 2014, the question was raised of whether stalking is indeed a form of abuse. Here's what a few of the participants stated: "Stalking is absolutely a form of abuse. Its bullying of another form. It's an invasion of privacy!" - @

African

AkiliahNehanda "Yes stalking is a form of abuse, it terrifies a woman. Abuse comes in many forms; physical, verbal, emotional, spiritual." - @MsMavis09 "Oh yes ma'am. That's one of the most serious forms of abuse. It attacks mentally. Women are scared to go outside." - @MsAndreau When asked to share their thoughts on the common notion that stalking is a compliment/proof "he cares" whether being stalked via phone/text or being followed, here are a few of the responses: "It is DEFINITELY NOT okay. Caring enough to protect your woman is one thing. Invading her privacy is crossing boundaries." -@RasheedahJM "... women are so starved for attention that we've confused positive attention for stalking. Stalking is not love, its control. A man must know that you belong to God. Not him." - @AxiomMariposa Once you start getting UNCOMFORTABLE then it's not ok. He's most likely doing it out of his own insecurities. And an insecure man is liable to do anything to make himself feel falsely empowered." - @AkilahNehanda "Those women most times do not know their value or self-worth and starved for attention, negative or else." - @ MsMavis09 The above responses give way to the possibility as to why and how so many people are victimized; it's not readily recognized as stalking or as a danger until it's too late. One of the hair-raising facts about stalking is that the range of time can exist from 4 weeks to 20 years, according to Dr. Mullen in his research study.

American News&Issues

It is also important to note the close-knitted relationship between domestic violence, sexual abuse and stalking. According to the Stalking Resource Center, 79% of abused femicide victims reported being stalked during the same period that they were abused. 89% of femicide victims who had been physically assaulted had also been stalked in the 12 months before their murder. The mental impact that stalking victims suffer is quite immeasurable but has been reported to include the prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression. 1 in 7 stalking victims move as a result of their victimization. 1 in 8 employed stalking victims lose time from work as a result of their victimization. It is imperative that stalking abuse and victimization be taken very seriously and not passed off as something light weight, trivial or as a compliment. Your peace of mind, safety, as well as your life and the lives of those you love depend on it. Be empowered. To learn more about Stalking Victimization and tips to protect yourself please visit StalkingAwarenessMonth.org. Ebony S. Muhammad is the Publisher of Hurt2Healing Magazine, a digital publication that takes a fearless approach to subject matters plaguing both men and women such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, drug abuse, abortion, injustice, health/wellness and relationships. She is the organizer of ‘Turning Wounds Into Wisdom’, The Women of Transformation Summit Fighting Against Domestic Violence/Sexual Abuse. You may follow her on Twitter @EbonySafiyyah and visit her online at Hurt2HealingMag.com

11

Health

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its annual snapshot of the three nationally reported sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. The data from the 2013 STD Surveillance Report show that STDs continue to pose a risk of life-long health consequences for millions of Americans. Key findings include: Chlamydia for a rate of 446.6 per 100,000 people. Cases remain concentrated among young women, who are at risk for severe reproductive health complications, including ectopic pregnancy and infertility Gonorrhea for a rate of 106.1 per 100,000 people Drug resistance remains a concern, with only one recommended treatment option remaining Syphilis (Primary & Secondary) for a rate of 5.5 per 100,000 people Gay and bisexual men continue to be most affected STDs are preventable and most are treatable, but many infections go undetected or simply ignored, in part because they often have no symptoms. With an estimated 20 million new infections occurring in the U.S. each year, collective action is critical to stop the spread of STDs and minimize the health consequences, which can include increased HIV risk and severe reproductive health complications. CDC is working with health departments, medical professionals and community leaders to increase awareness of STDs and promote regular screening for those most affected. www.cdc.gov

TX-11

African

12

American News&Issues

Texas • December 29, 2014 - January 4, 2015

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