Prince Georges AFRO-American Newspaper March 29 2014

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY EDITION

Volume 122 No. 34

MARCH 29, 2014 - APRIL 4, 2014

ACA Deadline Approaches By Zenitha Prince Special to the AFRO

The clock is ticking down toward the March 31 deadline for open enrollment in new insurance plans that are the centerpiece of the Affordable Care Act, creating an urgency among U.S. consumers, businesses and government officials. This month has seen a surge in enrollment—more than 1 million people visited HealthCare.gov on March

24—and an even greater groundswell of demand is expected as March 31

2014 Black Caucus Agenda

Important Votes This Week as Session Nears End

extra time would be given to Americans who try to sign up but encounter problems

The increased demand could be a response to the revved up outreach efforts on the part of state agencies and the Obama administration. approaches, which could put added pressure on the online marketplaces. Obama administration officials announced this week that

By Sean Yoes Special to the AFRO

or those who have special or complicated cases, according to various news sources.

Continued on A6

Bids Are In, Waiting Begins

Prince George’s ‘All In’ for New FBI Headquarters

Voter registration deadline June 3 INSIDE A3

Tennis Player Francis Tiafoe Honored

A4

Mediation Begins in HBCU Duplication Lawsuit

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By Courtney Jacobs AFRO Staff Writer

Several bills important to many in the state’s communities of color will be voted on this week, while legislators continue to grapple over others as the 2014 Maryland General Assembly nears an end. One of the measures is not actually a part of the state’s Legislative Black Caucus’ official agenda. The legislation would help some of Maryland’s Methodist churches control their assets and even maintain their independence. HB0840 would repeal provisions of current state law which, mandate all assets owned by any Methodist Church to be held in trust and under the general authority of the United Methodist Church even if the local denomination decides to break from the larger church body. The law actually appropriates Methodist Continued on A3

University of Maryland President Dr. Wallace D. Loh walked to the news conference podium on March 24 at the College Park campus. As Loh looked out into the room full of elected officials, residents, and university staff, he was beaming. “F.B.I. stands for,” Loh said, then paused for a deep breath and chuckled. “F.B.I. stands for Fully Behind It.” Loh then started a chant of FBI with the crowd joining in. With that, another effort to advance Prince George’s County as the best option for the relocation of the new and consolidated FBI headquarters, was started. In attendance were Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, Gov. Martin O’Malley, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Sen. Ben Cardin, U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, U.S. Rep. Donna F. Edwards, Prince George’s House Delegation Chair Jolene Ivy, Prince George’s Senate Delegation Chair Doug Peters, Prince George’s County Council Chairman

Poor Working Mothers, Children Scheduled to March for Minimum Wage Hike By Zachary Lester AFRO Staff Writer

U.S. Rep. Donna F. Edwards and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker are together in their support of the FBI headquarters relocating to Prince George’s County. Mel Franklin, other members of the County Council, and other elected officials. “It is truly exciting to see that leaders from across the County and the State are united behind bringing the FBI headquarters to Prince George’s County,” Franklin told the crowd. The officials and

Courtesy photo

community leaders came together inform the public about this opportunity for the county and state. In November 2013, the General Services Administration (GSA) began their search for a location to build new headquarters for the FBI. The GSA was very

Continued on A3

Tena Weedon’s daughter, Jeanae, an aspiring school principal, received scholarships to pay for most of her tuition to Spelman College. However, even covering the balance is difficult for Weedon. As a worker who has always made minimum wage or only a little more, she is constantly facing financial challenges. Each month, she struggles to pay for basic necessities and has even fallen behind on the monthly payments for her subsidized apartment. She was recently laid off from her job as a parttime retail clerk at a hardware store where she made $8 per hour. Continued on A4

Tena Weedon struggles to help her daughter, Jeanae, pay for college. Photo by Travis Riddick

Rewards Up to $50,000 Offered For Missing Girl WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI has released video taken at a hotel of a missing 8-yearold and the man she is believed to be with. The FBI says surveillance footage released March 25 on the agency’s YouTube page shows Relisha Rudd and 51-year-old Kahlil Malik Tatum, who is believed to have Relisha with him. Agents said in a news release that the footage was recorded Feb. 26 at the Holiday Inn Express in

Relisha Rudd

northeast Washington. D.C. Police continue to search for Relisha, who was reported missing last week, and Tatum, who is charged with killing his wife, Andrea Tatum in Maryland. The video shows Relisha and Tatum walking down a hallway. Relisha is wearing pink boots and a purple Helly Hansen jacket with white stripes. The body of Andrea Tatum, 51, was found March 21 in a motel room in Oxon Hill, where Prince George’s

Kahlil Malik Tatum County officers had gone to assist the Metropolitan Police Department in its search for

Relisha. Andrea Tatum, who police Continued on A3

Funders & Supporters

The Marian Anderson 75th Anniversary Celebration Saturday, April 12 at 7pm • DAR Constitution Hall Tickets: All seats $5 WPAS.org • (202) 785-WPAS (9727) • Presented by Washington Performing Arts Society

Copyright © 2014 by the Afro-American Company

Fluor Corporation Airlines for America American Red Cross Centric (A BET Network) Clear Channel Daimler Daughters of the American Revolution & DAR Constitution Hall DCTV EventsDC

Howard University Jacqueline Badger Mars and Mars, Incorporated Time Warner Unted Therapeutics Corporation Van Auken Family Private Foundation, Honoring global efforts to advance awareness & early detection of Lung Cancer


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