Phylicia Rashard honored with Estelle Witherspoon Award
Federation of Southern Cooperatives holds 58th Annual Meeting on August 14 to 16
Phylicia Rashard and Cornelius Blanding
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund is holding its fifty-eighth Annual Meeting a special three-day event beginning Thursday, August 14, 2025, in Birmingham, Alabama, and continuing through Saturday, August 16, at our historic, Rural Training and Research Center in Epes Alabama
FSC Annual Meeting, p 6
Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics based on weak July jobs report
By Blackmansstreet Today
President Donald Trump on Friday fired Erika L McEntarfer, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics based on a weak July jobs report, after alleging that she manipulated the numbers to make him look bad
Eutaw Chamber of Commer
ce holds Political For um for Municipal Candidates
Special to the Democrat by John Zippert, Co-Publisher
The Eutaw Area Chamber of Commerce held a Political Forum on Saturday, August 2nd, on the lawn of the old Greene County Courthouse in Eutaw The forum was for candidates running in the August 26 2026’s Eutaw Municipal elections Over a hundred people turned out to hear the candidate’s views and answers to questions posed by the voters All three candidates for Mayor of Eutaw incumbent Latasha Johnson Corey Cockrell and Tyrone Atkins were present Most of the candidates for Eutaw City Council in Districts 1 to 5 were also in attendance to give their platform and views
See Erika McEntarfer, p 6
Black Church and Black Press unite to empower Black America
Rev Boise Kimber, President of the National Baptist Convention and Benjamin F Chavis, Jr, NNPA CEO
Nashville TN July 25 2025: In a historic announcement, a coalition of leading Black faith organizations and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) unveiled a strategic partnership and plan to confront systemic disparities impacting African American communities nationwide
See Black Church and Black Press, p 6
Jobless rates for Black men and women jump under Trump’s cuts and tariffs
By Blackmansstreet Today
Payroll employment rose a disappointing 73,000 in July, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4 2, but the Black jobless rate for both men and women jumped as the Federal government continued to cut jobs, like at the Department of Education
The U S job market slowed sharply in July and was substantially weaker than first estimated for prior months suggesting President Donald Trump’s trade policy may be stifling hiring
See Jobless Rates, p 6
The Washington Post sees major exodus of Black Journalists
By Lauren Burke, NNPA Congressional
Correspondent
The Washington Post which has long defined itself as the paper of record alongside its competitive rivals, The New York Times, is now witnessing a major exodus of Black journalists Though the U S is becoming more diverse the Post isn’t
The Post s headquarters sits in the middle of the District of Columbia, which has a 43 percent Black population and a historic Black university less than two miles away Yet The Post has never had a history of staff diversity
See Black Journalists, p 6
Mayor Latasha Johnson, in her opening comments said “ I love the City of Eutaw, and I have lived here all of my life I have worked as Mayor for unity and progress When I came into office in November 2022, the city s finances were in bad shape With help from a financial advisor we developed a budget and began regular annual audits We borrowed
$500,000 for needed vehicles and equipment That loan will be paid in full in September and we can borrow funds again for equipment and road maintenance which are needed Johnson, continued, We have received $9 million in state and Federal grants with no matching requirements based on our audits and financial system, to upgrade our water and sewer system along with Boligee We also received grant funding from the state to re-pave Highway 14 coming into the city and for the TAPStreetscape project for sidewalks around the old Courthouse Square ”
See Political Forum, p 7
Char lie McAlpine: For kland-bor n leader seeking thir d ter m on a Foundation of
Delivering Results
I, Charlie McAlpine, a native son and dedicated public servant, announced my run for a third term as Mayor of Forkland Raised in this community by parents who believed in service and hard work I embody the hometown values of integrity and commitment
Since winning my first term in a runoff election in December 2016 my ad-
ministration has led Forkland into a new era of development and civic pride focused squarely on tangible improvements for residents Rooted in Forkland Heritage: Graduating from Paramount High School and an alumnus of Alabama A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness, furthering my education with a Master's in Public Administration with a concentration in Non-Profit Management I hold numerous certifications in Training, Leadership and Management I retired after working 37 years with USDA, serving as a Soil Conservationist, District Conservationist NonProfit Coordinator and as the Coordinator of Resource Conservation & Development Programs
My name is Jonathan Woodruff Jr and I am honored to announce my candidacy for Councilman of District 2 in the City of Eutaw I am running because I believe our city deserves a dedicated leader who prioritizes public safety, economic growth, and a healthy, sustainable environment
As a proud native of Eutaw, I understand the challenges we face and the opportunities ahead I am
On July 30 2025 the Eutaw Police Department arrested Christoper Harris, of Eutaw, on a warrant for following too close
On July 28, the Greene County Sheriff Department arrested Shannquilya Davis 41 of Eutaw for two counts of assault 2nd degree She was released on a $20,000 bond On August 4, Marcus Parham, 41, of Eutaw was arrested for failure to appear on unlawful distribution of a controlled substance The Eutaw Police De-
partment reported the following incidents
7/29 - Cierra Hinton reported harassment
7/29 - Aaliyah Cross reported harassment
7/30 - Tykehia Allen reported domestic violence assault 3rd degree
7/31 - Cliffton Epps reported an incident
7/31- Angela Lucas reported domestic violence assault 3rd degree The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following inci-
(RC&D) For 20 years my responsibilities included writing, implementing, and executing all Federal and State Grant Programs for Rural Community Development Upon completing my training at the Foreign Service Institute in Washington D C the U S State Department’s in house academy for language, area, and professional tradecraft instruction I spent three years in Afghanistan under the Obama administration, headed by Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, appointed as an Agriculture Advisor / Expert In that role, I led agriculture reconstruction programs, coordinating with the NATO led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) a multinational deployment involving contributions
committed to working collaboratively with the mayor and fellow council members to drive meaningful progress in our community I hold both a Bachelor ’s and Master ’s degree in Mathematics along with a minor in Business Administration, which I will use to support sound financial planning and responsible resource management that fosters long-term stability and growth for our city
from some forty to fifty countries to revitalize rural livelihoods, irrigation systems, and agri value chains I bring unmatched expertise to municipal leadership After retiring I returned home to manage my family's Beef Farm Operation I am seeking a third term to continue the mission of turning promises into progress With experience, integrity and a deep bond with Forkland s residents I offer both a proven record, a renewed momentum and well-educated administration For voters who value results, accountability, and steady leadership grounded in hometown values I Charlie McAlpine stand ready to serve again A Vision for the Future
My goal is to continue building on the positive momentum in Eutaw ensuring that every resident feels heard, supported, and proud to call this city home I respectfully ask for your support as we work together to move Eutaw forward
Sincerely Jonathan Woodruff Jr Candidate for Councilman, District 2 – City of Eutaw
Erika McEntarfer
Peace For This World
I wish this world
Were made for peace
Then every struggle
Would carry hope
Every pain would move Toward ease
And I would never Forget to smile I wish this world
Were made for peace
Then every child
Could feel safe
And all people could grow In trust And one would ever Forget to celebrate I wish peace Were made for this world
Carol Prejean Zippert
Ala bama Power Foundation invest in the communities
The City of Eutaw extends its gratitude to Leah Banks and Alabama Power for their generous donation and community support, acknowledged through a recent check presentation in anticipation of the upcoming Christmas holiday
District 1 Greene Co Baptist Center
District 2 Eutaw Activity Center
District 3 Branch Heights Community Center
District 4 First Presbyterian Church
District 5 National Guard Armory
--Community Calendar--
August 6 thru 8 -St Paul United Methodist Church, Eutaw, AL Annual Revival Service August 6th, 7th, 8th at 7:00 nightly Pastor Robert Johnson of St Matthew Baptist Church Sawyerville AL will be the speaker The public is invited Pastor LaTonya M Brown
August 9- Missionary Gospel Singers will celebrate their 19th Choir Anniversary Saturday, August 9 2025 at the Southside Church of God in Christ in Tuscaloosa AL 6:30 p m Elder Ben Jackson Jr, is church pastor Climax: Sunday August 10, 2025 at Mt Zoar Missionary Baptist Church at 2:30 p m Boligee, AL Highway 11 South/ County Road 138 Boligee Alabama Rev Edward Culbert
Revival 2025 –“Revive Us Again” Pleasant Valley Baptist Church
August 13–15 7 PM Nightly
Get ready for 3 nights of powerful preaching and worship at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in West Greene, AL
Guest Speakers: Wed, Aug 13: Rev Corey Savage –Plum Grove Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa Thurs & Fri, Aug 14–15: Rev T L Davis, Jr – First Baptist Church, Livingston
Guest Minister Brother Garry (Bubba) SmithMaster of Order The public is invited
August 17- Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church Boligee, AL will host their Pastor Rev Jeffery and 1st Lady Kelly 4th Annual Pastoral Appreciation at 1:30 p m Rev Randy Miller of Mt Zion Mt Hebron is the guest speaker, morning speaker Pastor Jimmie Cockrell from Pine Hill Baptist Church Columbus, MS This is also a time for those who have been a part of our church body to "come home" and join us to celebrate their time as a part of our congregation
August 17- Springfield Unity Methodist Church will celebrate their Annual Homecoming Rev Bruce W Henderson Sr Pastor of Friendship Baptist
church Tuscaloosa AL will be our guest minister he will be accompanied by his choir and congregation The public is invited Rev Steven Barnett is church pastor
September 21- Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church Pleasant Ridge AL cordially invites you and your church family to our choir concert to be held at 2:30
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Poetry Book Order Form
Tuesday July 29th 2025
commemorated the 59th Anniversary of the July 29, 1969, Special Election, which allowed the NDPA ticket to be placed on the ballot in Alabama subsequently, Black people in Greene County won seats on the County Commission, School Board and other county offices The celebration was held at William M Brach Courthouse Bishop Carolyn Branch delivered the welcome and occasion stating that Greene County was the first in Alabama and one of the first in the nation to elect Black public officials to control the county government and school system, since the
passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act In the November 1970 elections, Rev William McKinley Branch, pastor of Christian Valley was elected as the first Black Probate Judge in America and Rev Thomas Gilmore was elected the second Black Sheriff in Alabama
The Special Election of July 29, 1969, helped to realize the promise of democracy in the southern United States wherein the 85% majority Black voting population of Greene County elected a government representative of the people living in the county This victory did not come without struggle The Black can-
didates running on the National Democratic Party of Alabama (NDPA), were deliberately left off the ballot in the regular November 1968 election The NDPA and local candidates went to Federal court to seek a new election with the Black candidates on the ballot This legal effort was successful and the U S Supreme Court ordered the Special Election of July 29, 1969 Spiver W Gordon President of the Alabama Civil Rights Freedom Movement, stated our young people need to know from whence we’ve come He paid special tribute to several Greene County Foot Soldiers, including Mr Jerome
Tribute to Charles O Prejean 1941-2025
Many of the early staff, Board and members of the Federation, are grieving the July 24, 2025, death of Charles O Prejean, at the age of 84, a founding Board member and first Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund Charles was born May 6 1941 in Lafayette Louisiana the third of seven children of Oran and Edolia Prejean Charles the grandson of sharecroppers grew up in a low-income segregated society of the 1940 s and 50 s in Louisiana He attended Catholic primary schools and then entered the Society of the Devine Word Seminary, in Bay St Louis, Mississippi intending to become a priest Until he decided with God’s guidance that he could contribute more as a lay person to changing the conditions of Black people and the community He earned his Bachelor s Degree from the University of Southwest Louisiana in Lafayette
Charles worked closely with Father Albert J McKnight, CSSP, a Black Catholic priest from Brooklyn NY who came to pastor Black churches in southwest Louisiana Starting as a teenager and continuing during seminary and college Charles volunteered with Father McKnight in adult literacy classes and cooperative business development He became the first manager of Southern Consumers Cooperative, a holding company for a bakery, statewide loan company worked with sweet potato farmers and other cooperative enterprises
With Father McKnight, his younger brother Fred, and two others, he attended the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Charles says the historic civil rights demonstration, in the nation’s capital, changed the trajectory and direction of his life to dedicate himself to uplifting the Black community
In 1966 Charles McKnight Carol Prejean and John Zippert helped convene a series of meetings, supported by various organizations, to bring together cooperative and credit union leaders in the South who had been organizing family farmers and other low-income people through the civil rights movement for economic justice
The Southern Cooperative Development Program a Ford Foundation funded effort was formed to expand cooperative development in four southern states; and a plan to organize the Federation of Southern Cooperatives
In the Spring of 1967, 22 cooperatives and credit unions gathered to form the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Charles served as its first Executive Director and subsequently established the FSC Research and Training Center in Epes AL Under his leadership, the membership reached more than 15,000 families in over 130 cooperatives
Following his retirement from the Federation, Charles taught at Xavier University in New Orleans and served as Director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministries in Atlanta, GA
His memories are cherished by his wife Carmen his children Carla Chuck and Charlotte; sisters Leora, Elsie and Carol and many other relatives and friends
Anthony who served as a bodyguard for Judge Branch during the Movement Several of Mr Anthony’s family members were present to accept the tribute
There were many speakers at the program who remembered and celebrated the Special Election of 1969 State Representative Curtis Travis said, It is important to look backward but also forward in our view of history We need to attract more lawyers, doctors and other professionals to Greene County and the Black Belt ”
NOTICES
Disbursements
All disbursement, based on Senate Bill #40 , Act No 223-206 and Charity Award will be available for pickup on August 8, 2025 at 9:00 in front of the Palace, 106 Old Patton Road, Knoxville, Al 35469
Elder Spiver Gordon gives Mrs Ella Wilder Morrow certificate of Appreciation
Elder Spiver Gordon present certificate of Appreciation to the family of Mr and Mrs Jerome Anthony Sr ,
Elder Spiver Gordon presents Evangelist Sarah Anthony Denson with Coretta S King Award
Elder Spiver Gordon gives Award of Appreciation to Fannie Wilder Long, family of Barbara Gordon and Atheria Wilder
Crowd reminisce on the past
Fr aud, Waste and Abuse
The Greene County Democrat newspaper is published each Wednesday by the Greene County Democrat Newspaper Company Inc 206 Prairie Avenue Eutaw Alabama (USSR 700680) Subscription rate in county is $25 per year; elsewhere in Alabama, $30; and out of state, $35
Publishers: John and Carol Zippert
Editor: John Zippert Office Manager: Barbara Hunter
The Greene County Democrat 206 Prairie Avenue P O Box 598 Eutaw AL 35462
Phone: 205-372-3373
Fax: 205-372-2243
Website:greenecodemocrat com & facebook Greene County The Democrat
Jasmine Cr ockett is the voice of a new gener ation; and she is r eady for the moment
By Marc H Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
When you have people that are this extreme, they will do anything and everything to maintain power The only thing that will stop them is us – Rep Jasmine Crockett
We are living through a moment that demands clarity, resolve, and truth Across this country, communities are calling for leadership that understands the stakes, challenges the status quo and delivers for those most often left behind In Texas that leadership has a name: Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett
Since stepping onto the national stage, Rep Crockett has made it clear that she is not in Washington to warm a seat She is there to fight for justice for access and for the voices too often silenced in our democracy She speaks not for spectacle, but for substance She represents a new generation of Black leaders who combine deep community roots with legislative rigor and moral clarity In the tradition of mayors like Brandon Scott in Baltimore and Justin Bibb in Cleveland, Rep Crockett reflects a growing movement of bold and accountable public servants who are shifting the center of gravity in American politics They understand that justice is not an abstract idea It is measured in policies, in budgets, and in how power is distributed and shared Rep Crockett's background as a civil rights at-
by Julianne Malveaux
(TriceEdneyWire com)The dystopian man who lives in the House that Enslaved People Built campaigned that he would reduce inflation (not), eliminate “fraud waste and abuse” and address immigration issues through mass deportations He can’t fix inflation by attempting to bully Fed chairman Jerome Powell who is justifiably standing his ground until his term ends as Chairman of the Fed in May 2026 If he chooses to be a thorn in the side of the man who appointed him, he can stay on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors until January of 2028
over the world, but especially in Gaza where the evil annihilator Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is limiting food aid to Gaza and denying that children are starving there The media visuals of little children with ribs protruding, young boys scrambling to collect flour, and mothers crying with anguish as their children languish in their arms would touch even the hardest of hearts, except for Mr Netanyahu who declares that there is no starvation in Gaza Even our President, not well known for his tender heart, has challenged his crony on this matter If our President is so concerned, though, why has he authorized the destruction of life-saving food because thanks to cuts in USAID, there was no way to distribute the food before its expiration date in late July
torney her experience in the Texas House of Representatives, and now her sharp, principled voice in Congress all point to one truth She is ready And she is meeting the moment In recent months as political theater has taken center stage in congressional hearings Rep Crockett has brought facts, law, and moral urgency Her lines go viral, yes, but her purpose is deeper She challenges misinformation with precision She demands answers on behalf of those who do not get a seat at the table And she reminds the nation that Black women are not only the backbone of our democracy; they are its future
But her work is not only about rhetoric It is about results
She is a consistent advocate for protecting voting rights, advancing economic equity, and defending public education from coordinated attacks She is raising the alarm about housing, healthcare, and the wealth gap all while staying rooted in the needs of her district She listens She shows up She leads with authenticity
At the National Urban League, we believe in building pipelines of transformative leadership We invest in civic engagement economic opportunity and the power of Black communities to drive change from the ground up Rep Crockett embodies those same values in Congress, a fierce advocate who knows the law, knows the people, and knows how to move policy forward
As we continue to confront challenges to civil rights, reproductive freedom, and democratic norms, we must also lift up the leaders who are lighting the path forward Jasmine Crockett is one of them She reminds us that democracy is not a spectator sport It requires participation vigilance and voices like hers; clear, courageous, and committed
To be equal, we must not only defend the progress we have made We must expand it and invest in leaders who carry the struggle forward with vision and action
The President s promise to end “fraud, waste and abuse” meant that he had his chainsaw carrying toady, Elon Musk, slash his way through government agencies, laying off or firing thousands eliminating critical programs and generally creating havoc until the bromance ended badly Hell has no fury like a billionaire scorned Children are starving all
About 500 tons of food valued at $793,000, would have fed at least 30,000 children Instead US taxpayer dollar funded food was either used as landfill or incinerated, costing another $100,000 in disposal costs Fraud waste and abuse anyone?
A month or so ago, the State Department destroyed $10 million worth of birth control supplies purchased by USAID for women in developing countries The supplies included birth control pills injectable contraceptives IUDs and other forms of
birth control Stored in warehouses in Belgium, the January 2025 foreign aid freeze included this birth control, valued at nearly $10 million Several global agencies, including Planned Parenthood International offered to pay for the distribution of these products, but our government refused choosing to incinerate the items instead, at a cost of $167,000 Some had a shelf life of several years possibly good until 2027 or later This administration would rather light a match to useful birth control supplies, incinerating the hopes and dreams of women internationally This administration embraces and, instead celebrates fraud waste and abuse when it fits their ideological purposes A bipartisan group of legislators, including Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski (R) and New Hampshire s Jean Shaheen ID) opposed the wasteful destruction, but it happened anyway! More fraud waste and abuse from an administration that promised to eliminate it
The attacks on science and research are also examples of fraud waste and abused One of the most egregious cases is that of Dr Uri Manor, won a grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders His research looked at ways the hearing impaired – about three percent of the population -
could be better included in the workplace Dr Manor himself hearing-impaired was also conducting experiments on ways to restore hearing He had a five year grant and spent about $1 5 million but his grant was abruptly cancelled because of the anti-DEI stance this administration has taken A judge has ruled that the cancellation of the brant is illegal, and the matter is now bogged down with legalities Some of Manor ’s team have been laid off and his research has been derailed Millions of dollars into important research Manor ’s work and his years of effort are now up in the air Fraud, waste and abuse, anyone?
There are hundreds of other cases of research suspended in the name of efficiency For the researchers impacted, and for the millions of us whose quality of life could be enhanced, this is nothing more than fraud, waste, and abuse Food and birth control products incinerated Valuable research halted The very administration that says they want to eliminate fraud waste and abuse is causing it, lighting a fire to taxpayer dollars, golfing through crises, as myopic as Nero fiddling while Rome burned
Dr Julianne Malveaux is a DC-based economist and author Juliannemalveaux com
Palestinians ar e not star ving in Gaza. T hey ar e being star ved!
By Dr Wilmer J Leon, III
(TriceEdneyWire com) -
The UN took a strong stand against apartheid; and over the years, an international consensus was built, which helped to bring an end to this iniquitous system But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians ” - Nelson Mandela 1997
Recently I was listening to an NPR program talking about Palestine and the genocide in Gaza and the point was made that Palestinians in Gaza are starving People need to be very clear on this point: Palestinians in Gaza are not just starving! I repeat that’s just not true The fact is that Palestinians in Gaza are being starved to death This is not a distinction without a difference It would be appropriate to say that Palestinians are starving if they were the victims of a natural catastrophe or an act of God such as a drought One could say that Palestinians are starving if crops could not be grown and grass were burned so the animals could not graze, such as in Sudan When natural disasters damage the food supply people go hungry and starve to death That brand of horror is called famine If a massive swarm of locusts descends upon an area, consuming all vegetation in their path and causing widespread damage to crops, this would be another cause of famine As with drought, people would go hungry and starve to death
That’s not what’s happening in Gaza In Gaza, there is food relief available There is medical aid available Both are rotting in trucks on the border because Israel will not allow them into the country People are not starving They are being starved Israel’s final solution to its Palestinian problem” is to
weaponize food and medical aid to starve the Palestinians into submission and ethnically cleanse them from their homeland Leaders in the Israeli government such as Prime Minister Benjamine Netanyahu, Ben Gavir, Bezalel Smotrich, and their American guardians such as President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the US Congress are complicit in these heinous crimes They have chosen to deny water, food and aid to Palestinians as Israel continues its inhumane assault on children women, medical professionals, press correspondents covering the genocide and international aid workers
According to Haaretz, Israeli soldiers in Gaza have been ordered to deliberately fire upon desperate Palestinians near aid distribution sites over the past month Doctors say aid distribution sites have become ‘a slaughterhouse’ as Palestinians have been lured to their deaths under the pretense of receiving aid Over 550 Palestinians were killed trying to get aid in the month of June alone
After years of using precise calculations to limit Palestinians daily caloric intake denying access to potable water, polluting accessible water with sewage and within the last week preventing Palestinian fisherman access to the Mediterranean Sea, the Zionist Israeli government claims it will allow a limited amount of food aid into limited areas
As convoys of trucks sit at the border with Egypt awaiting Israeli government clearance to deliver lifesaving aid, Netanyahu decides to recklessly “air drop small amounts of supplies into limited spaces in the suffering region This is analogous to trying to extinguish the recent California wildfires with an eyedropper and calling it “action
The rationalization of justification for this ethnic cleansing is codified in Basic Law: Israel The Nation-State of the Jewish People (the Nation-State Law) According to Honaida Ghanim in Israel s Nation-State Law: Hierarchized Citizenship and
Jewish Supremacy “The exclusivity of rights in the “Land/State of Israel” is the central organizing principle of the Nation-State Law Jews are deemed the sole people deserving national and collective rights Furthermore, the law applies not only to the Jewish citizens of Israel but also to Jews from all parts of the world regardless of the extent of their relationship affiliation, or even desire to become part of this entity ” This is at the expense of all other non-Jewish indigenous inhabitants (Palestinians) in the area This is also why I quoted the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela The parallels of apartheid between South Africa and The Occupied Territories are undeniable
The Washington Post is now reporting “It was not immediately clear how much more aid would enter Gaza, but U N officials said recently that Israel appeared willing to loosen some policies at a critical juncture when the territory is nearing a humanitarian tipping point ” By allowing relief into the region, Israel is not trying to solve the hunger problem, it is trying to address a political problem The optics of starvation have become politically inconvenient for Netanyahu and his henchmen While Palestinians are being starved to death American politicians are engaged in hypocrisy and equivocation US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez voted against Fellow Democrats Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar and supported the bill to send more military aid to Israel According to Al Jazeera, another Democrat, Congresswoman Grace Meng said in a statement that as a mother , her heart breaks to see children in Gaza starve, but it’s important to recognize that Israel has facilitated the entry of over 1 8 million tons and over 96,000 trucks into Gaza while Hamas continues to hold hostages, extort the aid system, and refuse ceasefire deals to stay in power and prolong the war ” What Ocasio-Cortez and Meng as well as other Democrats like Hakeem Jef-
I recently wrote about the Children s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools® program s annual National Day of Social Action, which this year engaged thousands of students enrolled in CDF Freedom Schools summer programs across the country around the message “Public Education is a Public Good Scholars from the CDF Freedom Schools site at The Mark in Montclair a program of Saint Mark s United Methodist Church in Montclair, New Jersey, put it this way in a letter to the editor at the Montclair Local: Public schools are more than just buildings They are the places where we learn, grow, and build our futures Public education helps level the playing field ’ It brings together people from different backgrounds and teaches us how to respect others and work together That makes our community stronger We all agree: access to a high-quality education should be a right, not a privilege Everyone deserves the chance to learn no matter where they live or how much money they have One of our peers said ‘Without education you’ll die on the streets, not being able to get a job ’ It may sound harsh but that s the reality too many kids face To the adults making decisions: See us Hear us Invest in us If public education is a public good, then we, the public, deserve the best of what it can be In the same letter they also shared a few ideas they think public schools can take from the CDF Freedom Schools movement, explaining that in their own summer program “we don’t just read books and play games we build community ask big questions, and learn how to stand up for what’s right ” They wrote: “At Freedom School, we do things differently We start with Harambee, a joyful time where we sing, cheer, and get inspired We read books with characters who look like us talk like us, and face real-life challenges We’re encouraged to ask questions, work in groups and express our ideas through writing, art, and performance Public schools could borrow from these practices adding more joy, culture,
and creativity to everyday learning ”
The CDF Freedom Schools model is indeed designed to light a spark and be an example of the best of what education can be CDF Freedom Schools sites provide summer and after-school enrichment through a research-based and multicultural program model that supports students, or “scholars ” in grades K12 and their families
They focus on high-quality academic and character-building enrichment parent and family involvement civic engagement and social action, intergenerational servant leadership development, and nutrition, health, and mental health and they incorporate the totality of CDF’s mission by fostering environments that support young people to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves and in their families schools communities, country, and world with hope education, and action
Scholars enrolled at CDF Freedom Schools sites receive culturally relevant pedagogy and are immersed in reading excellent books to deepen their understanding of themselves and all they have in common with others in a multiracial multicultural democratic society the books the scholars above mentioned in their letter that feature characters who look and talk like them and who face some of the same real-life challenges The program helps foster a love for reading that counters summer learning loss, and for many scholars this full experience becomes a transformational foundation with impacts that last far beyond the summer as CDF puts it nurturing lifelong learners and advocates for progress
More than 12,000
scholars enrolled in CDF Freedom Schoolsprograms this summer have learned, and learned to share with confidence a lesson every child and young person should know: they all deserve the best of what education can be Adults must step up who share their conviction and their determination not to settle for less
Marian Wright Edelman is Founder and President Emerita of the Children's Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities For more information go to childrensdefense org
Senate Sketches #1989.....by Hank Sander s Votes Destroying Moles
Vote destroying moles Moles burrow under the ground Among other things, they can destroy crops growing on top of the ground by damaging the roots Vote-destroying moles damage the democracy we see growing above ground Vote destroying moles
U S Supreme Court
Chief Justice John Roberts and his cohorts opened the vote-destroying mole cage on June 25, 2013 The cage opening instrument was the Shelby County v Holder case The 1965 Voting Rights Act required preclearance of voting changes prior to implementation in certain states The Shelby case gutted the provision opening the cage wide and letting loose the democracy killing moles Vote destroying moles
The vote-destroying moles commenced burrowing under the soils of democracy the same day as the Shelby decision was released The Attorney General of Texas declared a legislative act implemented that the Texas Legislature had passed but was never submitted for preclearance
The Attorney General of Alabama followed suit the next day with previously enacted legislation that had not been implemented because it was never submitted for preclearance Vote destroying moles
Since June 25 2013 hundreds of bills limiting voting rights have been introduced in legislatures across the United States of America About 100 of these bills have become law, destroying the soil that bears the democracy growing above ground Vote destroying moles
The vote-destroying moles burrow under democracy soils However, the damage is not seen immediately Many of the laws do not appear to be greatly restrictive on the surface so by the time the damages are fully recognized it is too late These laws impact the poor peoples of color, senior citizens, the less educated, the sick, the disabled, and more Vote destroying moles
The voter registration mole attacks at the beginning of the voting process
Most countries do not require voter registration for their citizens Individuals who are citizens are automatically registered to vote in most nations The U S system requiring citizens to actively register to vote is unusual among developed democracies Until the Shelby decision the federal government and many states made voter registration easier After Shelby, many states made voter registration more difficult Voter registration requirements destroy many potential votes Vote destroying moles
Voter identification laws increasingly require photo identification I was denied the right to vote for years in Alabama When I was legally allowed to vote, I went into the polling place signed my name and voted That had been the process in Alabama for nearly 150 years Now that those of us who have been excluded from voting have been allowed to vote, it has now become more difficult to vote Twenty-nine million voting-age persons in the United States do not have a
driver ’s license or other forms of photo identification Voter identification at the polls destroys many lawful votes These laws have resulted in the exclusion of countless eligible votes even though neither widespread nor isolated instances of voter fraud at the polls have ever been demonstrated Vote destroying moles
Early voting allows more citizens to vote Permitting voting on just one day makes it impossible for many people, especially working people to vote Shorter periods of time for early voting ensures fewer people are permitted to vote Early voting restrictions are mole destroying votes Vote destroying moles
Absentee voting is becoming increasingly limited In Alabama four new criminal laws have been enacted to make absentee voting more dangerous and therefore more difficult It is a Class B felony (1-20 years of imprisonment) to pay anyone to assist with absentee voting It is a Class C felony (1-10 years of imprisonment) to receive a payment for assisting with absentee voting
The requirements for witnesses of absentee ballots, self-delivery of ballots, and limited reasons allowing absentee voting are further limitations destroying votes Vote destroying moles
Voting by mail helps more citizens to vote, especially those facing barriers to in-person voting due to work, age, illness, etc
Many states are now limiting voting by mail some dramatically reducing its availability to voters despite its proven record of security and lack of significant fraud These limitations undermine both accessibility to and confidence in the democratic process Vote destroying moles
The closing of polling sites is another vote-destroying mole burrowing beneath the surface of our democracy When polling places are shuttered, many citizens are forced to travel greater distances and endure longer waits to cast their ballots Since the Shelby decision thousands of polling places have been closed, disproportionately affecting those with limited transportation, rural voters, communities of color, and more To make matters worse, some states have enacted laws prohibiting volunteers from providing food or water to voters waiting in long lines even in extreme heat Faced with such obstacles, many eligible voters are deterred from going to the polls at all, especially those who cannot afford to spend hours away from work or family responsibilities Vote destroying moles
Redistricting is another vote-destroying mole It is the power of the legislative pen Whoever has the authority to draw election districts can greatly increase the power of certain voters and greatly decrease the power of other voters
Let’s look at Texas
The population of Texas is more than 31 million Of these, approximately 12 million (39 percent) are White, 12 million (40 percent) are Hispanic and 4 million (12 percent) are Black Yet despite Latinos
and African Americans making up a majority of Texas’ population congressional and state district lines are drawn to ensure that White candidates are elected in a majority of districts These moles are hard at work burrowing below democracy soils Vote destroying moles
There are additional strategies that expand the voting power of some and decrease the voting power of others Each tactic is a mole, burrowing under democracy soils, Vote destroying moles
The biggest vote-destroying moles are the many false rumors and lies about voter fraud There are so many lies These prolific lies provide the cover of darkness and set loose many vote-destroying moles Vote destroying moles
Moles work underground One mole cannot do great damage, but multiple moles burrowing underground can destroy vast crops Multiple moles are burrowing underground and are destroying the democracy we have been growing since our nation’s founding Vote destroying moles
Loss of confidence in the voting process leads to loss of confidence in the political process Loss of confidence in the political process leads to loss of belief in democracy and ultimately the country Vote destroying moles
Now on to the Daily Diary
SATURDAY, July 26, 2025 – I was at my office at 6:00 a m I handled various matters and made it to Montgomery for a historical dedication event for the 1960’s Southern Courier Newspaper I attended a luncheon, handled additional matters, returned to Selma and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Dr Viola Bradford of Montgomery; Dr Robert White of Alabama State University; Dr Adia Winfrey of Talladega; Copublisher of The Greene County Democrat John Zippert; and Ainka Jackson of the Selma Center for Nonviolence and the Bridge Crossing Jubilee;
SUNDAY – I walked and hosted the Sunday School Lesson with Faya Rose Toure on Facebook Live and Z105 3 FM Radio station I traveled to Montgomery to attend Church at the City of Refuge Church shared lunch with several leaders, returned to Selma and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Wallace Community College Selma President Dr James Mitchell and wife Priscilla Mitchell; Sharon Wheeler of Montgomery; and Retired Circuit Judge John England, Jr
MONDAY – I handled many matters and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Dr William Barber of Moral Monday organization; Marion Mayor Dexter Hinton; Josephine Curtis and Junior Olliver of Selma; Lowndes County School Board member Reverend Robert Grant; and Greene County School Superintendent Dr Corey
Jones
TUESDAY – I walked handled many matters traveled to Greene County returned to Selma and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn; Greene County Health System Director Dr Marcia Pugh; Latonya Cockrell of Greene County; Selma Housing Authority Director Kennard Randolph; Greene County Board School Board members Leo Branch, Veronica Richardson, Carrie Davey, Robert Davis and Brandon Merriweather; and Dr Carol P Zippert of the Black Belt Folks Roots Festival
WEDNESDAY – I handled many matters, participated in a conference call, chaired a meeting and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Jefferson County Businessman Jeremy Bryant; Allen Garner of Dallas County; Dr Bernard Lafayette of Tuskegee on his birthday; Lateasha Britton of Lowndes County; and Marilyn Cosby Geraldine Wofford and Karen Jackson of Selma
THURSDAY – I walked, handled various matters, facilitated a Press Conference, participated in a conference call attended a Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority meeting and participated in an Alabama New South Alliance Screening meeting Among others, I communicated with the following: Rebecca Marion of Bridge Crossing Jubilee; ADC Chairman Dr Joe Reed; Television Reporter George McDonald; Greene County Democrat Co-Publisher John Zippert; Betty Strong Boynton of Selma; Associated Press Reporter Kim Chandler; Publisher of the Selma Times Journal Brent Maze; Judge Collins Pettaway Jr ; Willie Cook of Washington D C ; Law Professor Emerita Martha Morgan; Retired Probate Judge Kim Ballard; and K C Bailey of Selma
FRIDAY – I handled many matters and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Selma Businessman Frank Blockton; Craig Field Airport Executive Director Jim Corregan; Ruby Wharton of Memphis, Tennessee; Selma Businessman Bob Frazer; and Montgomery Businessman Frank Jenkins
EPILOGUE – U S President Lyndon Baines Johnson said that the vote was the most effective tool for overcoming injustice and that all other rights flow from the vote Vote destroying moles
EarthTalk® From the Editors of EThe Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: What can we do to make our neighborhoods more walkable? – D F , New York, NY
Walkability is a huge plus for engendering a pleasant neighborhood experience and the development of community bonds Credit: Pexels com
green infrastructure like tree-lined roads and permeable surfaces Urban planner Jeff Speck notes, “The pedestrian is an indicator species If you can build a successful place where people want to walk, you ve done something right ”
to allocate funds for safer sidewalks crosswalks and areas exclusive to pedestrians Zoning regulations can likewise be enhanced
Many suburban regions are designated for single-use development, thus separating residences from commercial activities and requiring car travel Mixeduse zoning promotes walking and businesses can help by setting up bike racks offering outdoor seating and designing shop fronts that are welcoming to pedestrians to improve the look of their areas
essential aspect of sustainability public health and urban design By enhancing pedestrian facilities, supporting smart zoning and leveraging tools like Walk Score people can help create more pedestrianfriendly communities
CONTACTS: Creating Walkable, Livable Suburbs, HYPERLINK https://essinc com/creating-walkablelivable-suburbs/"ess-inc co m / c
able-suburbs/
Walkability is essential for healthy communities A pedestrian-friendly community lets residents access vital services without cars This improves public health by encouraging physical activity, reducing pollution and easing traffic congestion Neighborhoods designed for pedestrians also foster stronger community ties and local economies However many urban and suburban areas still depend on vehicles
A significant ecological benefit of walkable communities is a reduced carbon footprint Transportation accounts for nearly 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U S By designing communities that promote walking or biking
Black Jour nalists
for daily activities cities can lower emissions and improve air quality Locations that are pedestrianfriendly also encourage public transit usage And residents are more likely to walk to the nearest bus or train stop This reduces total traffic enhancing safety and lowering fuel use Moreover, cities that emphasize walkability typically allocate resources for
The recent departure of Black journalists is seemingly related to an anti-diversity backlash led by President Trump after the 2020 George Floyd racial reckoning Trump s executive order, signed less than 48 hours into his second term on January 21, declared policy war on the diversity and inclusivity of historically marginalized groups
Trump’s George Floyd backlash, alongside separate claims of defamation by the president has led to his targeting of law firms media organizations and academic institutions
Several media companies such as ABC and CBS have capitulated to Trump The Washington Post appears to be doing so in advance, as Post owner Jeff Bezos has business before the federal government related to his ownership of Blue Origin and Amazon
The current moment now witnesses an exodus of Black journalists not seen in the paper ’s history In recent years journalists Vanessa Williams Wesley Lowery and Kevin Merida have departed The Washington Post But the current departures include journalists with decades of experience and several Pulitzer Prizes The current exodus is noteworthy even by the Post’s low standards for diversity The Post went for close to a year without a single Black member of the Editorial Board Currently the only Black member the obscure Keith Richburg is in Hong Kong The National Association of Black Journalists noted the issue in a July 26 press release
NABJ stated that they are “closely monitoring the recent wave of departures and voluntary exits from several legacy media institutions including The Washington Post This ongoing disruption has far-reaching implications for newsroom diversity representation and the future of Black journalists The list of departures includes two Pulitzer Prize winners: Jonathan Capehart, an opinion columnist who has been with the Post since 2007 and is taking a buyout offer Capehart also recounted a racial episode in 2024 in his book related to his former colleague Karen Tumulty who was deputy opinions editor at the time Tumulty has now been promoted to lead the Post s politics coverage
A stunning government report showed that hiring had slowed down significantly over the past three months
Taking to Truth Social Trump took the report personally and attacked McEntarfer Trump claimed that the country's jobs reports "are being produced by a Biden appointee" and ordered his administration to terminate her "We need accurate Jobs Numbers," Trump wrote "She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate; they can t be manipulated for political purposes "
He intensified his attack in a later post, writing: In my opinion, today s Jobs Numbers were RIGGED to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad "
An administration official told NBC News shortly after the post that McEntarfer had indeed been fired
The deputy director of BLS, Bill Wiatrowski, who took up the role during the Obama administration, will become the acting director during the search for a replacement, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said McEntarfer whose research focuses on job loss retirement worker mobility and wage rigidity had previously worked at the Census Bureau s Center for Economic Studies the Treasury Department s Office of Tax Policy, and the White House Council of Economic Advisers in a nonpolitical role
She has a bachelor ’s degree in Social Science from Bard College and a doctoral degree in economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
FSC Annual Meeting
Cornelius Blanding, Federation Executive Director stated, We are proud to honor Phylicia Rashad as the 24th recipient of the Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award, the Federation’s highest honor She will be recognized during our largest annual fundraiser as we celebrate nearly 60 years of cooperative development land retention and advocacy “
The award will be presented to Rashad during the Annual Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Banquet on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, located at 2101 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, Alabama 35203 The program will begin promptly at 7:00 PM Central Time
This special evening honors the life and legacy of Estelle Witherspoon whose lifelong work uplifted her community, as the Manager of the Freedom Quilting Bee in Alberta (Wilcox County), Alabama and reflected the true meaning of cooperation and service
On Friday and Saturday August 15 and 16 2025 the focus will shift to the Federation’s Rural Training and Research Center located in Sumter County between Epes and Gainesville, Alabama Workshops on cooperative development, land retention, heirs property, advocacy around the Farm Bill, and other issues will be held Tours of the RTRC and demonstration forestry, livestock and garden projects will be held
The Saturday sessions will include a Prayer Breakfast and a Business Meeting The Federations Board of Directors and Executive Director will report to membership on progress in the past year and projections for coming years
As an accomplished actress and stage director, Ms Rashad’s decades-long career reflects the same spirit of excellence resilience and community-focused service that defines the Federation From her celebrated performances in works rooted in Black storytelling to her leadership as Dean of Howard University s College of Fine Arts and her role as Brand Ambassador for the National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, Ms Rashad continues to champion the preservation of Black history land and legacy ideals at the heart of the Federation’s work in civil rights cooperative economic development and land retention across the rural South Rashad became a household name when she portrayed Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show, a character whose enduring appeal earned her numerous honors and awards She has appeared in NBC’s This Is Us ( Emmy nominations) in the popular Fox TV series Empire in Tarell Alvin McCraney's Peabody Award-winning series David Makes Man on the OWN Network, Diarra From Detroit, The Good Fight, Little America, and The Crossover
While television was a catalyst in the rise of Ms Rashad's career she has also been a force on the stage appearing both on and Off Broadway often in projects that showcase her musical talent such as Jelly's Last Jam, Into the Woods, Dreamgirls and The Wiz Highly respected in education and the arts, Ms Rashad recently finished her time as Dean of the Chadwick A Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University In February 2023 she was named the first person to hold the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities at Howard
To learn more about the banquet or the Federation s
A genuinely walkable area incorporates several essential characteristics Mixed-use development, featuring residences, retail spaces workplaces and educational institutions within strolling distance lessens the necessity for lengthy travels Secure and inviting pedestrian features ensure that walking remains a practical choice Measures to calm traffic, such as narrower roads and intersections designed for pedestrians, enhance street safety
Making a neighborhood more walkable requires efforts at both personal and policy levels Residents can encourage local authorities
A valuable resource for evaluating neighborhood walkability is Walk Score, which evaluates locations based on closeness to stores public transit and walking facilities Residents can use it to assess their locality or examine the walkability of prospective living locations
Walkability extends beyond convenience; it’s an
EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the
Post editorial board member Karen Attiah announced on social media on July 22 that she was the last Black staff columnist left in the Washington Post s opinion section On July 21, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toluse Olorunnipa, who was the White House Bureau Chief for The Washington Post, announced he was now a writer at The Atlantic Olorunnipa won the Pulitzer for the book “His Name is George Floyd” in 2023 for General Nonfiction Several Post journalists have fled to The Atlantic Other departures include Eugene Robinson and Krissah Thompson who was the only Black managing editor on the masthead
“After 24 years at The Washington Post, I’m turning the page on this chapter of my career I’m grateful for the wonderful experience that I’ve had and the contributions that I’ve made over 24 years as a reporter editor and news leader ” Thompson wrote on her Instagram page on July 23 Trump s executive order, which called for the termination of all federal government programs relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility,” appears to have been obeyed even by private sector actors under no obligation to comply Post CEO Will Lewis has remained in charge despite a 2024 controversy surrounding his connections to a scandal related to the illegal phone-hacking of members of the British royal family Many recent hires at the Post have been in some way connected to the more conservative The Wall Street Journal The latest round of buyouts ends on July 31, so many more departure announcements are expected this week
Jobless Rate
The U S economy added just 73 000 jobs last month and the monthly totals for May and June were revised downward by a combined 258,000 jobs
The prior two months’ revisions were “stunning,” said Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG, in an interview with CNN May’s estimated 144,000 net gain was revised down by 125 000 to 19 000; and June’s preliminary tally of 147 000 was slashed by 133 000 to 14 000 according to data released Friday from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The jobless rate for Black men was 7 0 percent in July 2025 compared with 6 7 percent in July 2024 The employment rate of Black women was 6 3 percent in 2025 compared to 6 2 percent in 2024
Black workers continued to face a disproportionately high unemployment rate at 7 2 percent nearly double the rate for White workers, which remained at 3 7 percent Hispanic workers saw a jobless rate of 5 0 percent, while Asian workers had a jobless rate of 3 9 percent
Historically Black women have been overrepresented in the federal workforce in positions that have offered stability security and more pay equity Black women constitute about 12 percent of federal workers, compared with 7 percent of civilian workers
They are also more likely to be in the departments that have been most targeted for cuts by DOGE (The Department of Government Efficiency) including the Departments of Education Health and Human Services and Housing and Urban Development
For example, take a look at the Department of Education, which Trump wants to destroy U S Department of Education has 4,133 employees, according to the administration s numbers
Nearly 600 workers have since chosen to leave by resigning or retiring And this week more than 1 300 workers were told they're losing their jobs in a Tuesday purge
That leaves 2,183 remaining department staff, according to the administration Which means the Education Department will soon be roughly half the size it was just a few weeks ago
Black women made up 28 percent of the education department They also made up many of the diversity equity and inclusion or DEI positions that Trump set out to eliminate during his first day in office
Black Chur ch and Black Pr ess
Dr Boise Kimber President of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc ; Bishop J Drew Sheard Pre- siding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC); Dr Samuel Tolbert, President of the National Baptist Convention of America; and Dr Benjamin F Chavis Jr , veteran civil rights leader and President of the NNPA, are leading this collaboration between the Black church and Black Media
“There is strength in unity There is power in our collective voice There is hope in our actions, said Dr Boise Kimber
For generations, African American communities have endured deep-rooted inequities in healthcare, education, criminal justice, economic opportunity, and access to capital
These challenges are not new The coalition intends to put an end to fragmented responses and speak with one clear concise and consolidated voice
The Black Church and Black Media, two institutions that have long anchored and uplifted Black America, are now coming together with renewed focus and purpose
This partnership is grounded in shared values spiritual conviction cultural empowerment and an unwavering commitment to truth justice and progress
The coalition will focus on five core initiatives:
•Shaping a unified national narrative that challenges harmful stereotypes and amplifies stories of Black resilience, excellence, and innovation
•Mobilizing faith-based and media networks to address community disparities through solutions-focused advocacy and outreach
•Holding corporate America accountable by demanding responsible reinvestment in Black communities through sustainable partnerships, economic equity, and communityled development
•Empowering the next generation by reclaiming our narratives and creating new pathways for education leadership and entrepreneurship
•Holding elected officials accountable by spotlighting those whose policies do not align with the interests of the Black community To earn our votes, they must heed our voices
•“This is more than a symbolic gesture; it is a strategic and spiritual alignment ” When the Black Church and Black Media speak as one we can ignite a movement When we organize as one, we can shift the narrative When we act as one, we cannot be ignored or denied, the coalition stated
The coalition invites all stakeholders, faith leaders, media professionals, community organizers educators business leaders and concerned citizens to join this movement for unity justice and progress
Trump claimed that the country s jobs reports are being produced by a Biden appointee and ordered his administration to terminate her
"We need accurate Jobs Numbers " Trump wrote "She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate; they can t be manipulated for political purposes "
He intensified his attack in a later post, writing: In my opinion, today s Jobs Nu
Erika McEntarfer
ABANDONED VEHICLE
In accordance with Section 32-13-1 Code of Alabama, 1975, notice is hereby given to the owners, lienholders and other interested parties that the following described abandoned vehicles will be sold at public auction for cash to the highest bidder at 9:00 am 09/05/2025 at to -wit 18862 US HWY 11
EUTAW AL 35462
2017 CHEVROLET
MALIBU
1G1ZB5ST1HF225955
Seller reserves the right to reject any bids and the right to bid 2tch 7/30, 8/6
In the Probate Court of Greene County, Alabama
In the Matter of the Adminstration of the Estate of Edgar Williams, deceased with will annexed
---Le gal Notices---
Notice to Creditor Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 12th day of June 2025 by the Honorable Rolonda Wedgeworth Judge of Probate of Greene County Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred
Edgar B Williams Administrator Pruitt & Pruitt, P A 312 South Washington Street P O Box 1037 Livingston, Alabama 35470 3tcg 8/6,13, 20
Legal Notices
BTS Towers, LLC is proposing to construct a 265-foot overall height guyed-wired tower telecommunications structure off County Road 12, Forkland Greene County
Political For um
Corey Cockrell who is currently a County Commissioner for District 3, said “I am the best candidate for Mayor based on my work on the County Commission and in community ” Cockrell, who is also a full time teacher and head football coach at Eutaw High School passed out a sheet showing $19 million in road work projects the Commission got funded during his tenure on the County Commission Cockrell said he was hardworking holding community events and cock-outs in the community to listen to the voters He said, ‘I will promote jobs and housing for people in the city; and I will correct the financial problems of the city by getting more grants and revenues ” Tyrone Atkins the third candidate for Mayor said, Not much has changed in Eutaw since 1995 Too many empty storefronts downtown The city officials are not dealing with the everyday problems of people in finding jobs shopping at one grocery store with high prices and lacking recreation for the children and young people That is why young people are leaving Eutaw as soon as they graduate high school and not coming back ”
There was also a spirited debate among the candidates for Eutaw City Council positions Tracey Hunter, incumbent candidate in District 3 is unopposed She spoke briefly about her intentions to continue serving and developing more programs for youth in the community
Two candidates for District 1, Ke Undra Cox and incumbent Valo-
Eutaw Ar ea Chamber of Commer ce Events
On Saturday, August 16th at 5:00 p m the King and Queen Cantina will host their Grand Opening! The Chamber will be celebrating with a Ribbon Cutting and there will be many other activities going on for the Grand Opening Please follow them on Facebook and share all of these events The Chamber is also conducting a survey to see how we can better serve our Members! The Google document
Alabama (32 36 23 3 N, 87° 49' 42 7" W) The proposed tower is anticipated to utilize FAA Style E (medium intensity, dual red/white strobes) lighting
BTS Towers LLC invites comments from any interested party on the impact the proposed undertaking may have on any districts sites buildings structures, or objects significant in American history, archaeology, engineering or culture that are listed or determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places Comments may be sent to Environmental Corporation of America, ATTN: Annamarie Howell, 1375 Union Hill Industrial Court Suite A Alpharetta GA 30004 or via email to p u b l i c n o t i c e @ e c ausa com Ms Howell can be reached at (770) 6672040 x 108 during normal business hours Comments must be received within 30 days of the date of this notice
rie Watkins both spoke and answered questions
Watkins said, I am not going to make a lot of promises I am running on my platform of honesty integrity and transparency I have helped to deal with an abandoned house on Roebuck and other places around the city I have pushed for speed bumps for the safety of children in the neighborhoods I want to cure some of the financial problems of the city We have too many people paying their water bills late We have too many city workers for our budget Cox said, “ I have returned to Eutaw after six years in the Air Force learning leadership skills I am one of the youngest people running and I want to bring the perspective of young people to the Council We have the potential to do better, and I want to help the city to serve young people so they will not move away but stay here to live and work
In District 2, incumbent Jonathan Woodruff Jr and Maurice Walton were present, Charles Naylor, Jr was in the hospital and could not attend Woodruff said “ I will continue to work to improve infrastructure I will work with a servant spirit and represent my district as well as the entire city I will work to keep us within our financial commitments in the budget Walton said “I will work as a team member with the other council members and the mayor to make Eutaw a better city for all of its citizens I will work to expand recreational opportunities for youth, beatification and improvement of our city,
and recruiting new businesses and jobs In District 4, incumbent Larrie Coleman was not present because of a previous commitment Sarah D Brewer stated, I want to improve the infrastructure – too many potholes and exposed culverts; we need to fix the water system – water pressure is low, and the quality of water is often undrinkable We need to be transparent with the finances, have regular audits and cooperation among the mayor and the council members ” In answer to questions on her vision for the city, she said, Build it and they will come, referring to infrastructure development ” Lorenzo French another candidate for District 4, said” I will work to restore trust and accountability in the city council I will work for more civic engagement by all people Having worked at the Robert H Young Community Center I know the needs for more activities for our youth You must love the place you live in –and I love Eutaw ” In District 5, the incumbent Suzette Powell, was absent due to a prior family commitment with her grandchildren Carrie Logan, the only White candidate for City Council, and other candidate for District 5 said “I have lived in Eutaw for the past thirty years and have volunteered with the Chamber of Commerce my church the Garden Club and others to improve the image of the city We must improve our infrastructure and work with other governmental agencies such as the County Commission and Industrial Development
In addition, any interested party may also request further environmental review of the proposed action under the FCC’s National Environmental Policy Act rules 47 CFR §1 1307 by notifying the FCC of the specific reasons that the action may have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment This request must only raise environmental concerns and can be filed online using the FCC pleadings system at www fcc gov or mailed to FCC Requests for Environmental Review Attn: Ramon Williams 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554 within 30 days of the date that notice of this proposed action is published on the FCC s website Refer to File No A1318248 when submitting the request and to view the specific information about the proposed action 25-002967 DMG 1tcg 8/6
Authority to make things better for all
The election is less than three weeks away, on Tuesday August 26 2025 If a runoff is needed, in races where one candidate does not get a majority (50% or more) of the vote it will be held on Tuesday September 23rd The last day to register to vote for the August 26th election is August 11 2025 Absentee voting is going on now until August 19, 2025, to get a mail ballot or walk-in to vote For more information contact the city election managers at City Hall, phone 205372-4212
TUCEP hosts Fun-Filled EXERT Camp for youth
Submitted by
Sheanell Edwards
WETUMPKA AL
From July 13–19, 2025, the Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension Program (TUCEP) hosted its annual EXERT (Extension, Education, Research Track) Camp at Camp Chandler in Wetumpka Alabama The camp welcomed youth from across Alabama and Georgia for six days of engaging hands-on indoor and outdoor activities designed to educate, inspire, and empower
Campers enjoyed a variety of enriching experiences throughout the week, including a field trip to the Montgomery Zoo Each day
was packed with fun and learning, as youth participated in educational workshops led by TUCEP Agents Topics ranged from financial literacy and resume writing to tree identification beekeeping and nutrition
In addition to the indoor sessions, campers embraced the great outdoors with ac-
tivities such as swimming, archery, rock wall climbing, zip lining horseback riding canoeing paddle boating and even axe and rifle throwing These experiences not only provided adventure and fun but also helped build confidence, teamwork, and life skills
The EXERT Camp continues to be a highlight for
Alfa Insur ance and Gr eene County Industrial Development Authority donate ice machines to Gr eene County Nur sing Home
Eutaw AL The Greene County Health System is proud to announce the generous donation of commercial ice machines to the Greene County Nursing Home, made possible through the support of Alfa Insurance of Eutaw and the Greene County Industrial Development Authority (GCIDA)
The donation will directly support the comfort care and well-being of the nursing home s residents Ice machines are a crucial part of daily healthcare facility operations helping to maintain hydration, and support a range of dietary and medical needs
“We are incredibly grateful for this contribution said Precious Moore, Administrator of the Greene County Nursing Home “These machines will help improve our services and ensure we can continue to
meet the needs of our residents with care and dignity ” The Greene County Health System Foundation recognizes the impact of strong community partnerships and expresses its sincere appreciation to both Alfa Insurance and GCIDA for their continued commitment to improving local healthcare
This donation is a testament to what can be achieved when local organizations work together to invest in the well-being of our seniors and support the vital services that care for them daily
For more information about supporting Greene County Health System please contact: Andrea Woods at (205) 372-3388 or andrea woods@gcheutaw c om
many young people each summer, offering a unique opportunity to connect with nature learn valuable skills and create lasting memories
August 10- Rev Derrick Wright of Pine Grove Sixteen Section Road will be the guest speaker for St John Baptist Church morning worship service beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Mark your calendars the next EXERT Camp is scheduled for June 7–13, 2026 For more information or to register your child, contact Sheanell Edwards Youth Development/4-H
A g e n t (sedwards@tuskegee edu) or Tameka King Family Consumer Science Agent (tking@tuskegee edu) at Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension
Ker r a Means g r aduates fr om McW hor ter School of Phar macy
Kerra Means, a resident of Eutaw, Alabama graduated from McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University in Homewood, Alabama with a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree on May 3, 2025 Kerra is the daughter of Donald and Lesia Means and the granddaughter of Cleopus and Madie Gaines as well as Harry and Mary Means During her many rotations in Birmingham, Dr Means gained experience in patient counseling, medications reconciliation and empowering/ educating patients about medication safety Following her commencement and boards, Dr Means will be working in Winston Salem, North Carolina
Missed Chances?
Perhaps you ve failed many times Although you may not remember You fell down the first time you tried to walk You almost drowned the first time you
Carolyn’s Tid Bits by Carolyn Young
tried to swim, didn t you ? Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat?
Heavy hitters the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot
Babe Ruth struck out 1 330 times but he also hit 714 home runs R H Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on English novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books
Anytime anyone is destined to do something great they must first overcome the pain of failure It is one who has been tried and proven who is found to be able to embrace success gracefully Don t worry
about failure
Worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try
Happy birthday to Berince Barnes, Esther Robinson Fairley, Charles
Bloxon Michaela S Gill
Mary Smith Ashley Consentine, Ciara McCray, Joseph Cunningham, Isaac Brady, Deana Anderson, Tomekia Isaac Tremaine
Hunter Carlos Banks Anthony McGee, Dorothy Washington, Rosie M Winn, Amair Wesley, Robert Noland Sr Robert Noland Jr Alexia Rogers
Erika Long, Willie Polk, LaShaun Henley, Tawanda Washington Vickie White
Terence Harris Nathan Davis, Dr Vivan
DeShields, Ayden Lyons, K
endall W Scott Smith Jameson Stokes Yolanda Young, Bernice Hodges, Pamela McGee, Willie Rhone Jazmine D Consentine Buford McKinnis Jr , Jamichael Watkins and James Hardy
Happy anniversary to Mr and Mrs Quinet & Jason Bryant and Mr and Mrs Gregory & Mamie Taggart
“People with goals succeed because they know where they are going
August
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
$25 Greene County Residents
$30 Alabama Residents
$35 Out-of-State Residents
Ala-SCAN week of 8/3/25– Central SERVICES
SELLING a RV Tractor or Golf Cart?
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B E A U T I F U L
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HEALTH/BEAUTY
AT T E N T I O N
OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators
FREE information kit Call 1-833-650-7885
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IF YOU HAD KNEE OR HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY and suffered an infection between 2020 and the present time, you may be entitled to compensation Call Attorney Charles H Johnson 1-800535-5727
FOR SALE
AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-833-641-6672
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OVER 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
“CALL US FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS” Store Hours
8 a m - 3 p m Monday - Friday RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL 215 Boligee Street Eutaw, AL 35462
home backed by a noclog guarantee and lifetime transferrable warranty Call today 1833-683-2005 to schedule a FREE inspection and no obligation estimate Plus get 20% off! Seniors and military save an additional 10% Restrictions apply, see representative for warranty and offer details
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-877323-5516 today to schedule a free quote It’s not just a generator It’s a power move
Safe Step North Americas #1 Walk-In Tub Comprehensive lifetime warranty Top-of-the-line installation and service Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available Call Safe Step 1-844-871-6175
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Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1 - 8 7 7 - 8
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Donate your car, truck, boat, RV and more to support our veterans! Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction! Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-877-724-3049 today!
Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day For a limited time waiving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply Subject to change and vary by dealer (Offer ends 6/30/25 ) Call 1877-205-0836
Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders ) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-833-955-3163
AUTOMOTIVE GOT AN UNWANTED CAR??? DONATE IT TO PATRIOTIC HEARTS Fast free pick up Patriotic Hearts’ programs help veterans find work or start their own business Call 24/7: 1-833-426-0193
CELL: 205-496-6019 Email : BoligeeElectric@bellsouth net Reginald Chea em Proprietor
Tuscaloosa
600 Lurleen B Wallace Blvd , S
JSwords@Swordslaw com Phone: 205-409-0673 Facsimile: 205-409-0672 Tuscaloosa, Al 35401 BOLIGEE ELECTRICAL
