Garland Journal 2-10-22

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My Truth By Cheryl Smith Publisher

Committed and making a difference I am so excited about this year’s Person of the Year. A good friend who is not a football fan questioned the choice. She said she didn’t like football. So what, I told her. I’ve been taking a knee for years! Also, I am from Jersey, so give me baseball or basketball any day! Now, while this year’s choice wasn’t because he was a football player, we can’t deny his legacy. Yes, he is Black history; someone who has done so much for football and baseball, and today he is doing so much for college football and HBCUs overall. This year’s Person of the Year is Deion Sanders, who is better known as, “Coach Prime.”

Deion Sanders

As the coach of Jackson State University’s football team, he is elevating all HBCUs because he’s addressing systemic issues that have led to the disenfranchisement of HBCUs and the people who choose to attend. Sure he’s constantly trending and people are speculating about his motives, but I am looking at the heightened awareness, the challenging of the status quo, the pride on the faces of proud alumni and supporters, the increased enrollment at HBCUs and more. HBCU presidents are praising Coach Prime, and rightfully so. In conversations with several presidents, I have yet to hear a negative comment. Those presidents realize that a win for one of us is a win for all of us. They also know that not only athletes are looking at JSU and other HBCUs. Students of all disciplines are recognizing that the ice is the same. More and more students are opening their eyes, ears and yes, hearts, to HBCUs. And more corporations are realizing the benefit of investing in these schools and the students. Which brings me to my truth. It’s like the 9th Wonder of the World has been unveiled and the energy is exciting. It’s great to see and hear Mr. Sanders talking about the benefits of HBCUs. Yeah, he’s saying what so many of us already know and I hope he doesn’t let up. The beauty in it all is that he is fearless. He realizes that faith and fear cannot occupy the same space. He also realizes his value and uses it for the benefit of others. Coach Prime is following in the rich tradition of coaching greats like A.S. Jake Gaither and Eddie Robinson. He’s building character in those around him through life lessons and hard truths. Just watch him in action. He knows that to whom much is given, much is required; and he also knows that if you raise the bar, offer challenges and build a foundation on faith, you’re on the way to success. Coach Prime is lifting as he climbs and for this, and so many other reasons, he is our Person of the Year.

SERVING NORTH EAST TEXAS

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Jean-Pierre Personifies Diverse, Committed and Confident White House

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

On the first anniversary of the Biden-Harris administration, the White House teemed with dignitaries, guests, and what appeared a larger press corps. While that and the enormous Secret Service presence blocking off about a five-block radius on and around Pennsylvania Avenue wasn’t unusual, there remains something different – perhaps even special – about the 46th President and his staff and cabinet. “Representation matters. We’ve seen that from the first day of this administration, the President signed an executive order to deal with racial inequity and making sure that we saw diversity and inclusion across the board in the federal government,” said White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. On January 20, the first anniversary of the Biden-Harris administration, Jean-Pierre sat down with NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.,

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Representation matters. We’ve seen that from the first day of this administration, the President signed an executive order to deal with racial inequity and making sure that we saw diversity and inclusion across the board in the federal government,” said White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

for a wide-ranging discussion. The discussion will be part of a 2022 Black History Month broadcast on PBS-TV stations across

the nation and PBS-World’s “The Chavis Chronicles,” and will include a focus on the successes See WHITE HOUSE, page 7

NNPA NEWSWIRE — At the White House before Breyer spoke, the President said, “I have made no decision except one. The person I will nominate will be a person of extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity and that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court. It’s long overdue in my opinion. I made that commitment during my campaign for President and I will keep that commitment.” By Lauren Victoria Burke

NNPA Newswire Correspondent

On February 25, 2020, as Biden’s campaign for the presidency was in serious trouble, he said during a debate that “I’m looking forward to making sure there’s a Black woman on the Supreme Court, to make sure we in fact get every representation.”

one. The person I will nominate will be a person of extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity and that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court. It’s long overdue in my opinion. I made that commitment during my campaign for President and I

will keep that commitment.” On February 25, 2020, as Biden’s campaign for the presidency was in serious trouble, he said during a debate that “I’m looking forward to making sure there’s a Black woman on the Supreme Court, to make sure we in fact get every representation.” With that promise confirmed and history about to be made, many are focused on who that historic selection will be. The names widely mentioned to replace Associate Justice Breyer are Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Justice Leondra Kruger, 45, a justice on the California Supreme Court since 2014, and J. Michelle Childs, 55, who is on the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. President Biden has set the timetable for the historic Supreme Court selection for Black History Month.

Dallas Arboretum’s A Tasteful Place Features Free Demonstrations along with Paid Classes Focused on Food, Floral and Fun Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden recently announced its springtime programming in A Tasteful Place (ATP) with plenty of cooking and floral demonstrations, gardening talks, events and classes. There are also paid workshops and cooking classes of all kinds for child and parent/caregiver, couples and individuals. In A Tasteful Place, a 3.5-acre potager garden inspired by the movement toward growing, preparing and eating fresh, sustainable, locally-grown food, there are talks and demonstrations nearly every day. These events listed with an * are free with paid

The Honorable Tammy Kemp presents solid case for re-election Let the record reflect: I have done my job! For the past seven years, I have been hard at work presiding over felony cases and dispensing justice in the 204th Judicial District Court. Before I took the bench in 2015, I hired the best and brightest staff in the Frank Crowley Courts Building and we did an assessment of the pending cases in the 204th as well as the manner in which the court operated under my predecessor and identified multiple deficiencies and opportunities for improvement.

“The single-most thing that inspires me about the administration, one of the things I can say about this President and Vice President, is decency,” said White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. (Photo: Cabinet Secretaries Gina Raimondo and Pete Buttigieg visited the White House to join then Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for a press briefing to discuss @POTUS’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal – a historic investment in our nation’s infrastructure.)

President Biden Confirms Selection of a Black Woman for U.S. Supreme Court

With the retirement of Associate Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, the oldest serving member of the nation’s highest court, President Biden has a unique opportunity to make a historic pick. On January 27, President Biden confirmed who he would select for the high court. “The person I nominate to replace Justice Breyer will be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience, and integrity. And they will be the first Black woman nominated to the United States Supreme Court,” the President’s twitter account proclaimed in virtually the same words he used standing five feet from retiring Associate Justice Stephen Breyer in the White House. At the White House before Breyer spoke, the President said, “I have made no decision except

VOLUME X

Visitors are also invited to see Dallas Blooms: Birds in Paradise from Feb. 19 to Apr. 10 garden admission. See calendar below(+) for a complete schedule. • Daily*: Samples of the season produce • Mondays*: Dallas College Cooks Demonstrations at 11 a.m. • Tuesdays*: Tasteful Tuesdays

Floral Demonstrations at 11 a.m. and Chef Isabel daily tastings demonstrations at 1 p.m. • Wednesdays and Thursdays*: Cheftastic Cooking Demonstrations at 11 a.m. (check the website) • Wednesdays*: Wind Down Wednesdays from 3-5 p.m. Read more at www.GarlandJournal.com

Judge Tammy Kemp

WORST TO THE FIRST I successfully streamlined the court’s docket process and reduced the number of individuals in jail pending court action in the 204th from an average of 300 defendants per month down to approximately 100 defendants per month. At a daily cost of $70 per day to house an individual in the County jail, this translates into cost savings to taxpayers and opportunity for the accused. In my first year on the bench, I took the 204th from being the worst ranked felony court to the number one most efficient court in Dallas County; and since that time, the 204th has maintained an exemplary level of efficiency, consistently ranking among the top three most efficient district courts.

MOST QUALIFIED CHOICE When I decided to run for the bench, I entered the race with confidence knowing my prior experience handling felony cases had properly prepared me for the judiciary. I have 33 years of balanced, senior level experience including working as a defense attorney, and a prosecutor at the Dallas County District Attorney’s (DA) Office, where I tried every type of felony offense including capital murder and death penalty cases. As the former Administrative Chief Prosecutor over the Family Violence & Child Abuse Divisions, I supervised 28 attorneys, 21 investigators and 18 support staff. I have presided over more than 100 felony trials and also preside over the Felony Domestic Violence Court. My fellow judges elected me twice to serve as Presiding Judge over all 17 felony courts in Dallas County. It is in this role during the pandemic that I assessed non-violent defendants to release from jail to reduce the spread of the virus among inmates and jail staff; helped implement changes to ensure the health and safety of felony court staff; and, identified the most efficient ways to continue day-to-day court operations See TAMMY KEMP, page 5


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