1700 ‘Good Trouble Lives On’ events held across the nation on July 17
By Hamil Harris
Barbara Arnwine, president/CEO of the Transformative Justice Coalition, at a ‘Good Trouble Still Lives On’ Rally in Chicago
(TriceEdneyWire com) - When U S Rep John Lewis died on July 17, 2020, instead of somber memorial services, his family and civil rights leaders and activists held rallies and marches and got into what he had described as good trouble meaning pushing for truth and justice even when it means taking a risk
See Good Trouble, p 6
Arrests of Alabama immigrants soar as local deputies become ‘mini-immigration officers’
and Rebecca
By Sarah Whites Koditschek
Griesbach AL com
Sheriffs assist in Alabama immigration arrests
Law enforcement agents are on track to arrest twice as many immigrants without legal status in Alabama as last year
An AL com analysis of federal data shows that Alabama is arresting more immigrants in an effort to meet President Donald Trump’s mass deportation promises The numbers reflect new ways local law enforcement are partnering with federal agents to make arrests
See Alabama Immigrants, p 6
Black Americans still face deep retirement gaps despite higher incomes
By Stacy M Brown Black Press
USA Senior National Correspondent
A report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute shows that Black Americans continue to face serious challenges in saving for retirement, even as their incomes grow
The 2025 Retirement Confidence Survey which included a special oversample of Black workers and retirees, found that the wealth gap remains wide at every income level Among households earning $75,000 or more, only 33% of Black Americans reported having $250 000 or more in savings and investments compared with 63% of non-Black Americans
See Retirement, p 7
From eggs to hotels, prices soar as inflation redefines daily life
By Stacy M Brown Black Press
USA Senior National Correspondent
School boar d a ppr oves multiple per sonnel and administr ative items Gr eene County Car eer Center demonstr ates unlimited car eer oppor tunities for scholar s
The Greene County Board of Education met in regular session, Monday, July 21 2025 with all board members in attendance As part of his report to the board, Superintendent Dr Corey Jones invited Ms LaMonica Little Career Coach at the Greene County Career Center for a presentation She gave an overview of the various activities including trips students were engaged in during the previous school year She noted that Greene County High School scholars are prepared for college, work force or military The areas of workforce training include welding heavy equipment operations HVAC various medical assistants programs and more Once students compete training and are certified in the field they are readily offered positions of employment Students are also provided all assistance available to earn scores for college entrance Ms Little demonstrated multiple trips students are afforded to universities industries state and national competi-
tions as part of their preparation She said that there are unlimited career opportunities for students if they will do the work “ If a student is still at home after graduation, then that student wants to just be at home ” she said Superintendent Jones also presented his 11 Goals for administrating the school system during the upcoming school term
Then board approved the following personnel items recommended by the superintendent * Rescind recall of Shana Lucy, Third grade teacher at Eutaw Primary School
* Rescind TEAMS Contract 2025-2026 – Lorissa Holder – GCHS, Science (1 Year Contract)
•Resignations: Jennifer Miller-Reeves, SPED paraprofessional – Robert Brown Middle School, effective July 1 2025; Samon Sanders – Truancy Officer Duties, effective May 30, 2025; Roshonda Clark, Second grade teacher - EPS
•Employment: Devin
Woods – ISS Instructor –RBMS; Dequandra Lyles –Elementary teacher –RBMS; Victoria Moore –TEAMS Science teacher –GCHS; Akeem Tyree – ISS Instructor – GCHS; Laquita Hunter – Longterm sub – Learning Academy; Kavalyn Bryant –First grade – EPS; Angela Pruitt – Third grade – EPS; Denetria Ruffin – Second grade – EPS; Zarquashia Taylor – Health Science teacher – GCCC; Glenda Hodges – Long-term sub (Special Services) - EPS; •TEAMS Contract 20252026 – Victoria Moore –GCHS, Science (1Year Contract); * Voluntary transfer of Demetris Lyles from 4th grade teacher at Robert Brown Middle School to 6th grade teacher at Robert Brown Middle School effective 2025 – 2025 school year
* Personnel for Summer Learning for the 20252026 school year: Brenda Lawrence – Nurse
•Salary for Mental Health Coordinator of $40 000 to be paid in accordance with the FY 2026
Mental Health Services Coordinator Grant
•Additional Service Contracts 2025 – 2026 for the following employees at Greene County High School: (Separate Contract): Head Girls Basketball – Torethia Mitchell; Assistant Girls Basketball – Lorissa Holder; Head Boys Basketball (Varsity) –Howard Crawford; Head Girls Track – Tracey Hunter; Head Boys Track –Howard Crawford; Asst Flag Football – Howard Crawford; •The following to perform after hours CCR related activities during the 2025-2026 school year, to include weekend and after school activities: Paula Calligan; Tomora MorrisHill; Shamyra Jones; Patricia Rhone; LaMonica Little; Tweila Morris; Tamika Thompson; Lorissa Holder; Janice Askew; Drenda Morton; Tura Edwards •Update to additional service contract to include Flag Football
See School Board, p 7
Sar ah Duncan Br ewer announces candidacy for Eutaw City Council, District IV
EUTAW, AL – Longtime community member and dedicated public servant
Sarah Duncan Brewer has officially announced her candidacy for the Eutaw
City Council representing District IV With a distinguished record of service within Greene County and a deep commitment to civic engagement Brewer is eager to bring her extensive experience and proactive vision to the city's leadership For the past two decades Mrs Brewer has been a cornerstone of the Greene County Board of Education Her career there began as secretary for the Superintendent, a role that provided her with foundational insights into the administrative workings of
local institutions She later transitioned to the critical position of HR Coordinator/Payroll Clerk for the Board of Education where she has been responsible for managing essential financial operations This 26-year tenure has honed her skills in organization fiscal responsibility and public administration Beyond her professional life Sarah Duncan Brewer is a devoted member of the Second Baptist Church, where her voluntary commitment to service spanning 35 years extends to her role as Financial Secre-
tary Her active participation in the church community underscores her dedication to the wellbeing and betterment of Eutaw residents
A staunch advocate for civic participation, Mrs Brewer has been a registered voter since becoming eligible consistently exercising her right to elect candidates into office for over 40 years This longstanding engagement with the democratic process has given her a unique perspective on local governance
Lor enzo Fr ench seeks City Council seat District 4
See Brewer, p 4
I believe public service is sacred I‘ve spent my life working in civic engagement, education, youth mentorship and public advocacy because I’ve always believed that if you
On July 19, 2025, the Eutaw Police Department arrested Joshua Daniels of Eutaw for discharging a gun into an occupied dwelling
On July 17, the Greene County Sheriff Department arrested Evelyn Tiller 46 of Eutaw, for Unemployment Compensation-Violation She was released on a bond of $3 000
See Inflation, p. 6
love a place you should serve it Platform - Rebuilding trust through: -Communication -Revitalizing communities with affordable housing and safe streets -Empowering youth through mentorship and education -Preserving Eutaw culture and legacy -Investing in new economic opportunities To complete this mission I need your help! This is a non partisan campaign powered by hope influenced by faith
The Eutaw Police Department reported the following incidents
7/14 - Reshonda Daniels reported fraudulent use of credit/debit
7/16 - Alphonso and Eula Morton reported home repair fraud
7/18 - Joe Webb reported an incident 7/19 - Carl Gibson reported a civil matter 7/21- Javeon Thomas re-
and achieved through hard work
Eutaw is a city that has always had a strong history of civil rights roots The City of Eutaw hasn’t always believed in equal representation in city government But through hope faith and resilient sacrifice things changed
How could you believe in equal representation in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and don’t believe in it in the 2000 s?
This campaign is about more than a seat It’s about restoring trust, renewing accountability and ensuring that leadership reflects the people it services It’s about building a community where transparency isn’t optional but expected, where decisions are made with not for the people
ported unlawful breaking and entering vehicle
The Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following incidents
As we work to revitalize our communities and drive economic growth, together we can create an environment where investment is welcomed, housing opportunities are expanded and families feel confident in building their future right here in Eutaw
Elect French City Council District 4
7/15 - Rachel Ray reported theft of property 2nd degree Item stolen included Samsung Galaxy A16, valued at $900; Moto Stylist cellphone valued at $400; Portable WIFI box valued at $200; Android Tablet, valued
Carol’s Notes
A Sorrow Coming
I know there’s a sorrow coming
I feel the weight of the sadness creeping in
All my being wants to deny what is already
In God’s hands
I hear the mantraEvery moment of every day is in God’s hands
There’s a sorrow coming
And the sorrow is not alone
I allow my heart to embrace a joy rising above it all I cling to that joy, the treasure chest Of lives touching lives
For even in a coming sorrow there are floating smiles
Summoned and sent
Cajoling a response of kindness and patience
Calm and quiet
Oh, there’s a sorrow coming I extend no welcome, but I carry it
Just the same
Carol Prejean Zippert
Greene County holds 59th Freedom Day Celebrations 1969-2025
Spiver W Gordon, President of West Alabama Civil Rights Freedom Movement organization,holding two posters of Luberta Crawford and Edna Chambers, whose stories he will be highlightingat the July 29th program at the William M Branch Courthouse The program will commemorate the 56th anniversary of the 1969 Special Election in Greene County which gave Black people control of the County Commission and School Board The public is invited to the celebration from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, next Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Tuesday, July 29, 2025, 5:00 p.m. Williams M Branch Courthouse Eutaw, AL 35462
Everyone is invited to join us for Praise, Music, Food and Fellowship
Sponsored by Alabama Civil Rights Freedom Movement, Inc Spiver W Gordon, President at 205-372-3446
Authoritarianism
(TriceEdneyWire com)Epstein files were the longest way from my mind to write about this week I thought I would be writing about the great Appeals Court decision overturning of that conviction of Baltimore’s former brilliant State s Attorney Marilyn Mosby We know she was convicted while doing what more than 35 000 people did in the U S with 735 of them being in Baltimore The Appeals Court agreed with us as we worked so hard to explain that case to people who couldn t believe she hadn t “stolen” somebody’s money It was hers! I will tell you more next week Trump fails to change the other subject MAGA folks are marching, protesting and burning MAGA hats He’s in deep trouble with some of his supporters One said, It s not the crime; it’s the cover-up!” There is a MAGA upheaval For once Trump is facing MAGA blowback over handling of the Epstein files The backlash is growing House Speaker Mike Johnson did a reversal today I know his voters already feel lied to and betrayed They were already a bit upset with him over Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Budget” because many of them had learned exactly what was in the budget and that the cuts impacted them, their grandparents, their children
Callers on radio programs said, This is a betrayal The backlash is growing Trump wants to pretend he doesn’t even need those objecting to what he is saying or doing People want to know what’s in those files Pam Bondi earlier said the files were on her desk Now they re not! MAGA Backlash is growing Meanwhile the “No Kings” protests are rising and some MAGAs have adopted them They’re even quoting the late Congressman John Lewis when he urged Good Trouble
Those protests are going on across the U S His MAGA base is finally beginning to see the broken promises, and their Representatives are not showing up in Town Halls to explain Their blind loyalty
By Dr Benjamin F Chavis, Jr
and
President
CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association
President Donald Trump’s housing policy is shaping up to be both an economic and humanitarian disaster and if leaders across the political spectrum don’t act soon, the damage may be irreversible
To be clear, housing policy was already broken long before Trump returned to office But instead of tackling the root causes like the chronic shortage of Section 8 vouchers and affordable units some policymakers chose to blame tools like rent-pricing software, which simply reflect the market’s conditions
has a crack They just learned it is alleged that Trump sent Epstein a bawdy 50th birthday letter He said “Happy Birthday and drew an alluring picture with a naked woman, suggesting his close relationship with Epstein Of course in typical Trump style, he is threatening to sue the Wall Street Journal for publishing the letter I don’t think his MAGA base is buying his attempt to distance himself from a close relationship with Epstein Comey s daughter being fired must have a bit of information about the Epstein files that somebody, maybe not just Trump doesn t want us to know! Ms Comey is known for her role in the prosecution of Epstein and was abruptly fired at this time with no clear reason It isn t right to punish a prosecutor for doing her job Of course she was given no reason for her firing so it leaves us to gather all the information and figure it out
She led prosecutions against Epstein for sex trafficking of minors in 2019 and secured Ghislaine Maxwell’s 20-year sentence for similar crimes She was a senior trial counsel and had nearly a decade of service Several of her colleagues walked out of the building with her apparently showing support for her I wonder why Bondi did an about-face on what was/is available in the Epstein files She closed the case She made sure Comey would not handle this case Is there something Comey might explain that doesn’t set well with Trump? Ms Comey’s father is under investigation about Trump s involvement in ties with Russia Is there some relationship-like maybe revenge?
Ms Comey made enemies when she exposed the rot among elites The firing of her and her father suggests a broader agenda to allow no dissent
Trump s administration undermines the rule of law
We deserve better Yes Ms Comey fear is the tool of a tyrant
Dr E Faye Williams is President of The Dick Gregory Society
rents we don t need to ban software that reports current prices We need to build enough housing, so the data reflects abundance not scarcity
Unfortunately, President Trump has not gotten this memo and he is making our broken housing system worse He has already driven up lumber prices with protectionist trade wars and targeted immigrant communities who make up a vital part of the construction workforce
Now, the president is laying the groundwork for another housing crisis that could rival 2008
underserved communities, will be the ones paying the price
And it doesn t stop there
Rather than confront the real barriers to affordability, politicians have chosen to target the messenger That never made sense and it still doesn t a point that Democratic Governor Jared Polis made clear last week by vetoing a bill to ban such technology If we want lower
By Marc H Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
(TriceEdneyWire com) -
A war has been declared in this country And the fight isn t just for diversity, equity and inclusion or for fair economic and criminal justice practices It s for the soul of America It s to determine which of us will have an opportunity not to prosper but merely survive in a future clouded with uncertainty at every turn
It’s for the fundamental right of Americans to protect themselves against predatory corporate practices destructive environmental policies and state-sanctioned violence by vigilantes and uniformed officers alike And it’s for the right etched in the very fabric of what it means to be an American,
"After observing the current condition of our city and county, I felt it was time for me to step into the ring and see if I could help make a difference in our city," stated Brewer Her decision to run stems from a desire to translate her observations into tangible improvements for Eutaw Brewer emphasizes her belief that while many factors contribute to realizing
In late May, Trump announced he is “giving very serious consideration” to taking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public again These government-backed mortgage giants were central players in the last financial collapse Under pressure to expand homeownership without oversight they helped inflate the subprime mortgage bubble Ten million Americans lost their homes The institutions got bailed out Families didn t To prevent that kind of disaster from recurring, the government placed both firms under conservatorship Releasing them now would create the same reckless incentives that crashed the global economy and it would benefit deep-pocketed investors just in time for the 2026 elections When the next economic crash comes everyday Americans and especially Americans in
which is the right to vote in a fair and free democracy where every vote is counted and every vote matters
That is the war that has been brought to the feet of every American and the doorstep of the civil rights community at the top of this year It s the war being waged in courtrooms across this land, from local jurisdictions to the Supreme Court
It is no secret that we are in a state of emergency The hard-fought victories of the Civil Rights movement including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Equal Employment Opportunity laws and the establishment of the Department of Education, are being systematically dismantled
But as we’ve stated in our D3 framework we doubled down on our advocacy on Capitol Hill and at the White House, and moralized in the 49th edition of the State of Black America Report, State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights and Progress Under Attack the National Urban League movement is not backing down We are defeating poverty through every program offered through our affiliates We re defeating
a vision, significant improvements are within reach "Over the years, I've watched how politicians often wait until election time to make improvements," she reflected "I thought, why not make these changes all the time? Because it is right to give our citizens quality services " Her platform is rooted in the principle of consistent proactive serv-
Trump s proposed budget would cut federal rental assistance by about 40% at a time when nearly half of renters are spending more than a third of their income on housing “We would see I think homelessness escalate in a way that has been really unprecedented,” warned Kim Johnson of the National Low Income Housing Coalition
Remaining funds would be handed to states as “block grants ” echoing past efforts to gut safety net programs through decentralization and attrition
This is not a serious answer to the housing crisis It’s an ideological move that risks deepening inequality and instability that will result in a type of “housing apartheid ”
Policymakers from both parties should reject this approach and unite around a new vision: one that builds Writers Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson call this the “abundance agenda ” In their
poverty through the work of our Equitable Justice and Strategic Initiatives division to correct a discriminatory and punitive system that keeps our people economically and civically disadvantaged and causes our communities irreparable trauma We are defending our Democracy through every action taken by our Washington Bureau to hold elected officials accountable for their actions and inactions in this moment We are demanding diversity through the collaborative work of our Demand Diversity Roundtable and by suing this administration for an outright racist executive order that is undermining our Democracy eroding trust in our systems, and dismantling our government For the Urban League movement, this state of emergency and scourge on our nation and community is a call to action
This week at our national conference in Cleveland, we convened affiliate leaders community advocates and thought leaders from across the country with one mission and a unified message: we are not backing down
We shared economic strategies to equip our
ice to the community, not just during campaign cycles Sarah Duncan Brewer is married to Albert Brewer They are the proud parents of two children, Alvin (Cara) Brewer and Ashley (Jason) Brewer Lincoln and doting grandparents to three granddaughters, Maya Faith, Nola Grace, and Ava Joy Her deep roots in the community and
book Abundance, they challenge local, state, and federal leaders to confront the self-imposed zoning restrictions and regulatory delays that have made it almost impossible to build enough housing You cannot be the party of working families when the places you govern are places working families can no longer afford to live, Klein wrote That means reforming exclusionary zoning streamlining permitting and shifting the political culture that demonizes developers while ignoring demand It means prioritizing supply not just subsidies
Because if we don t solve the housing crisis ourselves, voters will turn to anyone who claims they will even if the solutions are fake or destructive The values are already there
What we need now is strategy and action Increasing housing affordability and availability isn’t just good policy It’s the only way to keep working Americans housed the economy stable, and America s future secure and inclusive
communities and partners with the tools needed to help navigate an employment landscape that has become increasingly hostile towards people of color especially Black women Provided support and training for entrepreneurs and small business owners to thrive in the face of changing economic headwinds Invested in our young people at our annual youth summit as a reminder that even in a state of emergency, their dreams and ambitions are worth investing in and fighting for Developed civic engagement action plans to prepare our communities for the midterms in 2026 and support grassroots and civic engagement groups with the resources they need to fight back against rapidly expanding discriminatory voting laws We are taking the time to recognize every single person in this fight, thanking them for their contributions and reminding them why we do this work The Urban League movement is banding together to weather the storms to come, fight for our freedoms and Democracy in the face of tyranny, and equip our leaders every day to build a nation
commitment to family further underscore her dedication to fostering a thriving environment for all Eutaw residents Brewer invites residents of District IV to engage with her campaign as she looks forward to discussing her vision for a stronger more vibrant Eutaw
By Marian Wright Edelman
Earlier this week, groups protesting the current administration’s stands on civil and human rights held a “Good Trouble Lives On Day of Action honoring the fifth anniversary of beloved Congressman John Lewis’s death with his familiar words John Lewis especially loved reminding young people that they should never be afraid to get into good trouble by standing up for what they believed in, and college-aged young people preparing to serve in Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools® summer programs were blessed to have the opportunity to hear this message firsthand when he spoke at their National Training in 2014, telling them that when he was their age getting into necessary trouble” shaped his life’s mission
He described his childhood in rural Troy, Alabama where he worked on his family’s farm but was always desperate to get an education A teacher encouraged him to read all he could, and although he wasn t allowed in his segregated county library like so many of our generation he tried his best reading and rereading the few books they owned at home and borrowing his grandfather ’s newspaper every evening when he was done with it, since his family couldn t afford their own subscription He also listened to the radio to learn more about the news outside his small community and eventually started hearing about events that would change his life: “In 1955, 15 years old in the 10th grade, I heard of Rosa Parks I heard of Martin Luther King, Jr I heard his voice on an old radio, and it seemed like he was saying, John Lewis, you, too can do something You can make a contribution ” He decided then that was exactly what he would do
He tried to begin with the library: “So in 1956 16 years old, some of my brothers and sisters and cousins, we went down to the public library in the little town of Troy, Alabama, trying to get a library card trying to check out some books, and we were told by the librarian that the library is for Whites only and not for coloreds ” A year later as a high school senior he tried to apply to Troy State College (now Troy University), a White college close to his home, but his application was ignored John Lewis was stopped temporarily but he was not finished Without telling his parents or anyone else what he was doing he wrote a letter to Dr King asking for his help and Dr King responded by sending him a round-trip Greyhound bus ticket and inviting him to come to Montgomery to meet with him By then he had en-
rolled in his first year at American Baptist Theological Seminary (now American Baptist College) in Nashville, and over his spring break the 18-year-old decided to take Dr King up on his offer As he told our rapt audience “Meeting Martin Luther King Jr , meeting Ralph Abernathy meeting Rosa Parks, and later meeting Jim Lawson, who taught me the way of peace, the way of love the way of nonviolence, changed my life and set me on a path And I haven t looked back since ” He explained that his parents and community hadn’t taught him to challenge segregation: When I would ask my parents about those signs they would say, ‘That’s the way it is Don t get in the way Don’t get in trouble But his experience in the Civil Rights Movement taught him a different lesson and he always wanted others to do the same: “I got in good trouble, necessary trouble I say to you you re more than lucky, you are blessed, and you have to use whatever you see to pass it on to someone else Bless someone else Be bold Be brave Be courageous Speak up Speak out You must get out there and push and pull and help change things and bring about a nonviolent revolution, a revolution of values a revolution of ideas Someone must put out and say what is going on is not right, it is not fair, it is not just and we are here to do something about it If we fail to do it, history will not be kind to us ” He left the CDF Freedom Schools servantleaders with a final familiar encouragement: “Go out there and be a headlight and not a taillight Get out there and get in the way get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and be yourself It will all work out In just a few days young people at CDF Freedom Schools sites across the country will come together for their annual National Day of Social Action on July 23
This year, scholars in grades K-12 will be rallying marching and meeting with elected officials to demand strong civicminded education, sharing the urgent message that public education is a public good As the Department of Education itself is being systematically dismantled, these young people are still heeding John Lewis s message, and are determined to help change things and stand up for the education they want and deserve They are learning to be bright headlights and internalizing the core CDF Freedom Schools lesson you are never too young to make a difference
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 #1987.....by Hank Sander s How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
“How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?” I have encountered this question many times in various ways Lurking in that question is always the question: How did two Harvard Law School graduates end up in Selma, Alabama?” I have written about our journey to Selma one more than one occasion But the questions keep coming even after 54 years It’s a unique story that is worth telling again How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
Faya and I were awarded a joint Ford Foundation Fellowship that sent us to West Africa for nearly a year When we returned from Nigeria in 1971 we implemented our Reginald Heber Smith Fellowships a national fellowship providing free legal representation to those in need across the country that we had each received We wanted to work in Alabama, and there was only one legal aid entity in the entire State of Alabama that provided free legal representation for the poor That was the Madison County Legal Aid Society of Madison County We headed to Huntsville to practice Law How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
We weren’t at the Madison County Legal Aid Society in Huntsville for no time before we knew we were in the wrong place They wanted us to deal almost exclusively with evictions We knew that we did not attend and graduate law school just to oppose evictions We felt that we had a broader purpose in life When we became involved with public school discrimination issues our supervisor tried to stop us but we refused to be stopped We decided, however, to leave the Legal Aid Society I would leave first, and then Faya would leave a little later after I established a law practice How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
I wanted to practice law in Mobile because it was just 25 miles from Bay Minette where I graduated High School Faya did not want to go to Mobile Both her parents were from Mobile, but they had moved around a lot because her father was an African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Minister They had lived in North Carolina Kentucky Tennessee and Alabama and were living in Birmingham at the time we returned from Africa How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
right place during our visits to various cities Faya said “absolutely not” She had visited Selma a number of times because her uncle Jethro Gaines, had lived there He owned and operated a store He was deceased at the time we were seeking a place to live and work Faya’s experiences in visiting Selma were not positive to say the least How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
After I could not persuade Faya to visit Selma, I decided to visit Selma by myself I just felt strongly One Saturday morning I left very early and drove from Huntsville through Birmingham to Montgomery and onto Selma I traveled about 250 miles There was a shorter route to Selma but I did not know that at the time I did not know anyone in Selma and had no idea of what I should do in Selma that day I was moving by the Spirit How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
I crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge traveled straight ahead on Broad Street for one block turned right on Alabama Avenue and traveled one block to Washington Street I saw so many Black people I had accidentally stumbled upon the Black Business district in Selma on a Saturday morning I stopped the car and got out There was something about the way the people stood and walked and sat and talked and interacted A powerful feeling came over me How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
I said to myself out loud “This is where I am supposed to be” I knew there was a Black Lawyer in Selma but I did not look for him In fact I cannot remember what else I did that day I had driven nearly 250 miles and had to drive another 250 miles back to Huntsville I was moving in the Spirit How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
bama to live and work for a while based on our marriage That’s why I did not fight harder to practice in Mobile How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
After several weeks of intense discussions, we reached a compromise I would choose where we would live and work the first five years and she would choose where we would live the next five years I had already chosen Selma for my spirit, or perhaps Selma s spirit had chosen me How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
I immediately left the Madison County Legal Aid Society and moved to Selma I rented a room from an elderly lady Faya continued to live and work in Huntsville for a few months She would visit me on the weekends I rented a dilapidated office space upstairs across from the Selma Police Department and City Hall It had to be renovated furnished and equipped This took some months I opened the law office on January 10 1972 Faya joined me in the law firm on April 1, 1972 J L Chestnut, Jr joined us on July 1, 1972
The three of us practiced law together for 35 years Faya and I have practiced together in Selma for 53 years and are still going How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
After the first five years, Faya and I sat down and talked I assured her that I was ready to keep my agreement and move to Harlem, New York City She said that she felt Selma and the Black Belt needed me She decided to exercise her option the next five years I felt that Selma and Black Belt needed Faya It s been 54 years How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
Now on to the Daily Diary
Priscilla Luster and Latisha Britton of Lowndes County; Elizabeth Rutledge of Selma; Collins Pettaway III of Selma; Cynthia Ross of Detroit Michigan; and Casey Drinkard of Cullman County
TUESDAY – I handled many matters, traveled to Lowndes County, returned to Selma, handled additional matters, participated in a conference call and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following K C Bailey of Selma; Wallace Community College President Dr James Mitchell; Dr Adia Winfrey of Talladega; Twanya Dixon of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Dr Sonya Webb of the Lowndes County School System; Alabama New South Leaders Everette Wess Sylvia Fitts Dr Carol P Zippert and John Zippert; Robert Turner of Bullock County and Shelley Fearson; and Jeremy Bryant of Birmingham
Greene County School System start August 6, 2025
Faya and I drove to a number of cities in Alabama trying to find the right place to live and work No place was right I recalled that at the end of my second year of law school, I volunteered with Attorney Vernon Crawford of Mobile that summer One of the cases I worked on involved a conflict within SWAFCA (Southwest Alabama Farmers Cooperative Association) I had traveled with Attorney Crawford from Mobile to Selma for a hearing that lasted well into the night That was the only experience I had with Selma How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
I proposed to visit Selma because we had little success in finding the
I returned to Huntsville determined to persuade Faya to consider Selma Faya was still determined not to even consider Selma I called upon her sense of mission I told her that we were truly needed in Selma It was the center of the Alabama Black Belt Selma was the county seat of Dallas County and was majority Black It was bounded on three sides by Lowndes Wilcox and Perry counties all of which were majority Black The Voting Rights Act was not being implemented People still did not have everyday civil rights The one Black Lawyer in the whole West Alabama Black Belt was working by himself and had a serious drinking problem I tried every argument to no avail We both had very strong but opposite feelings about Selma How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
Faya was already making a big sacrifice by working in Alabama in Huntsville She had worked in New York City in Harlem during summers while in college and law school She had started a youth cultural group there that she loved She also loved the cultural arts scene in New York She really wanted to live and work in Harlem But she had agreed to come to Ala-
SATURDAY, July 12, 2025 – I handled many matters and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Josephine Curtis and Charlene Williams of Selma; Former Alabama Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little concerning the death of Former Alabama State Senator Bill Drinkard; Selma businessmen Jerry Hasberry and Floyd Hatcher; Ester Brown of the Wings of Hope; and Carlos Williams of Mobile, Alabama
SUNDAY – I hosted the Sunday School Lesson with Dr Margaret Hardy on Facebook Live and Z105 3 FM Radio Station and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Sharon Wheeler of Montgomery; Gail Townes of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Ainka Sanders Jackson of the Selma Non-Violence Center and the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; and Reverend Michael Bowen of Selma
MONDAY – I worked handled many matters, participated in a conference call and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Talladega businessman Roger Sims; Greene County School Superintendent Dr Corey
WEDNESDAY – I walked handled many matters participated in meetings and conference calls traveled to Lowndes County and returned to Selma and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Lowndes County School Superintendent Samita Jeter and Board members Steve Foster Travis Roger Ben Davis Robert Grant and Brant McCray; Geraldine Wofford and Marilyn Cosby of Selma; and Former Alabama State Senator Malika Sanders Fortier
THURSDAY – I traveled to Greene County, returned to Selma, handled many matters traveled to Lowndes County and returned to Selma Among others I communicated with the following: Robert Turner, Sr of Perry County; Barbara Amerson of Greene County; Melodie Ellis of Montgomery; and Dr Sonya Webb of Lowndes County
FRIDAY – I handled many matters and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Fourth Judicial Circuit Judge Collins Pettaway, Jr ; Khadijah Ishaq of Selma concerning death in the community family, and Asha Fortier of Selma
EPILOGUE – We usually have a mind of our own Fate usually has a mind of its own The two meet from time to time Fate s mind is so powerful that it overpowers our strongest mind How in the world did you and Rose end up in Selma?
Jones, Jr ; Gina Pearson of Montgomery; Dorothy Hulett, Rosie Whiteing,
China’s Lead In Clean Energy Only Getting Bigger Saasthra Bojja July 15, 2025
Dear EarthTalk: Which countries currently lead the world in total clean energy generation and is the current ranking order expected to shift anytime soon?
Charles Jensen Detroit, MI
It’s no surprise that China’s lead in global production of clean energy is expanding despite the best efforts of environmentalists, Elon Musk and others Credit: Hahaheditor12667 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4 0
Clean energy generation or energy generation without the output of harmful greenhouse gases has become an increasingly hot topic in today’s race for productivity and the growing global emphasis on ecoconsciousness Some of the most widely used forms of clean energy are solar wind and biofuel Other expanding clean energy sources include hydroelectric power and geothermal energy, according to Constellation Constellation also deems nuclear power to be a “clean” energy, which many would dispute Regarding clean energy
Inflation
production by country, it is vital to consider that while China leads the world in clean energy production generating an astounding 951 terawatt-hours in the first quarter of 2025 alone (with the United States following at about 907 terawatt-hours/year in 2023), China and the U S do not have the highest proportion of clean energy to total energy generation when com-
It’s so bad in America that a foreign news organization dug into the pricey details The Times of London reported that inflation which began accelerating in 2021 has left American consumers grappling with the most persistent cost increases in decades According to NerdWallet data cited in the report, the impact has been felt across every income bracket, fueling a growing sense that even basic experiences are becoming unaffordable
Travel and Lodging: Soaring Costs
Hotel rates have climbed 24% over the past decade, The Times reported In Manhattan, the average nightly rate hit a record $417 in September 2024, according to real estate analytics firm CoStar Miami Beach hotels averaged $283 a night last year up from $230 in 2019 while Las Vegas rooms rose to $198 up nearly 41% over the same period Rental car prices surged early in the pandemic and remain high While rates stabilized over the past year, costs have increased 29% since 2015 Airfares are technically down 18 5% compared to 2015, but The Times noted that this decline reflects airlines’ “unbundling” services to show lower headline fares while tacking on fees Southwest Airlines for example ended its bags fly free policy and now charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second
Dining and Groceries: Everyday Pain Points
Eating out has become markedly more expensive with restaurant prices up 49 3% in the last ten years Fast food chains have been forced to raise prices due to wage increases, higher energy costs, and supply chain problems A dozen large Grade A eggs averaged $6 23 in March before dipping to $4 55 by May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics The Waffle House restaurant chain temporarily imposed a 50-cent surcharge per egg Grocery essentials have spiked in price, The Times reported Baby wipes that cost $4 99
Ala bama Immig r ants
“Under the new administration there’s just simply been more resources allocated towards the overall immigration program said Huey Hoss Mack head of the Alabama Sheriffs Association
According to data from U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):,
• 1 947 immigrants were apprehended in 2025 as of June 26 and
• 1,823 in 2024
The Trump administration says it is targeting immigrants without legal status who have criminal records Most people arrested in Alabama have some kind of criminal charge or conviction according to federal data But in recent months a growing share have been picked up on non-criminal charges both in Alabama and nationwide Of those detained in Alabama since Trump took office in 2025, 1,095 people have pending criminal charges and 596 are convicted criminals The majority of people detained are men
One reason for the growing numbers of arrests is the expansion of partnerships, called 287G agreements, between local law enforcement and the federal government Such efforts in Alabama reflect a national trend In May, Trump set an aggressive goal for detaining more immigrants with a 3 000 daily arrest quota
We want to make one of your deputies, and maybe more of them, mini-immigration officers,” Chris Cannon, an assistant field officer in ICE’s New Orleans office, told officers at a sheriff ’s conference in Orange Beach earlier this month He said that ICE has a small presence in Alabama with just four offices and 25 employees and more local officers are needed to help the effort
Earlier this week, federal agents raided multiple Alabama businesses in six counties and arrested 40 people thought to be undocumented as a part of an operation tied to an alleged money laundering and human smuggling operation
Freddy Rubio, an immigration attorney in Birmingham, thinks the current federal approach will not solve a more systemic issue, employers who hire workers who are not here legally “If they wanted to get even bigger numbers, go to north Alabama to the chicken processing plants and in one day they could round up more than 1 700 undocumented workers he said
In 2025, immigrants detained in Alabama were citizens of many countries Mexican immigrants made up the majority of those arrested, at 853, followed by Guatemalans, but the list of countries of origin is long including locations like Romania Venezuela Jamaica Laos and India
As arrests increase, authorities in Alabama are also removing more people from the country, either through deportations or through exclusion proceedings Exclusions include undocumented immigrants, parolees, or people who otherwise were not admitted to the country legally Federal data classifies “deportations” as people who entered the country legally but have since lost status and have been ordered to leave
So far this year, 1,430 removals, including 352 deportations, have been carried out Of those, 87 were voluntary departures from Alabama
Mack said most immigrants without legal status arrested, in his experience, are felony offenders They may have committed robberies or other nonviolent felonies or they may have reentered the country after being deported which is a felony offense
They may not have a criminal history as what you would normally think of, but they have an immigration criminal history because, once again, entering the country in and of itself without proper documentation and going through the process is a crime ” he said of people who return after prior deportations
Rubio questioned the agency s claim that most immigrants arrested were serious criminals, noting that a traffic violation is technically a crime
Immigrants facing deportation in Alabama are less likely than other states to have access to a lawyer Of Alabama residents in immigration court only 24% have an attorney according to a Syracuse University analysis of active cases across the state
Among those arrested this year, about 30 immigrants were sent to countries other than their country of citizenship, mostly Venezuelans, who were sent to Guatemala or Mexico, according to the federal data Earlier this year Trump revoked protected status for Venezuelans put in place by President Joe Biden in 2023 because of dangerous conditions there
pared to other nations Iceland Norway Paraguay and Brazil lead in having the majority of their total energy production come from clean energy sources such as geothermal energy in Iceland and hydroelectric power in Norway
So, how are the U S and China the leaders in clean energy production despite clean energy being a smaller portion of their overall energy generation? The answer lies in both nations large-scale demand for energy due to their size, population and productive efficiency
While clean energy makes up roughly 30 percent of U S energy production with the total energy production coming in at about 102 83 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) in 2023, the sheer volume of clean energy production from the two countries is larger than any other nation China’s clean energy production makes up about 38 percent of its total
energy production placing it just below the global average of 41 percent and the U S even lower at 30 percent as mentioned above Other countries are able to make the complete or nearly total shift toward using solely clean energy due to their relatively smaller size both in population and land as well as having relatively less demand for energy Albania, Bhutan Nepal and Lesotho utilize hydroelectric power without needing to use coal or natural gas because their demand for energy is so small that their existing renewable resources are able to meet their needs With factors like population size and energy demand unlikely to decrease in China and the U S , the current rankings of clean energy production will most likely not shift In fact according to Lauri Myllyvirta lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), “the [clean energy] industry is now a key
part of China’s wider economic and industrial development To advocate for the spread of clean energy, reach out to your local legislators and understand the rules surrounding local energy generation facilities, support plans for the creation of clean energy facilities in your area and emphasize the transition from traditional to clean energy in your own life
CONTACTS
The 10 countries that produce the world’s cleanest electricity China continues to lead the world in wind and solar EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk See more at https://emagazine com To donate visit https://earthtalk org Send questions to: question@earthtalk org
four years ago now average $6 63, while a unit of dog food jumped from $5 78 to $8 42, according to NielsenIQ
Lindsay Owens, executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative, said some companies have exploited the situation for profit “They decided to see if they could pass along all of their rising costs so that their margins wouldn’t be eaten into,” Owens told The Times “And when they realized that they could they decided to go for more ”
Entertainment and Theme Parks: A Luxury for the Wealthy
The price of live entertainment has soared NerdWallet figures show concert and theater tickets are up 39% since 2015 The most recent Broadway season was the priciest on record averaging $129 per ticket and top shows often exceed $1 000 a seat Dolly Parton’s December Las Vegas shows sold out in minutes, with resale prices climbing to $1,600 At Disney parks, costs have risen steeply A four-day Walt Disney World trip for a family of four, including a Disney hotel, cost $4,266 last year, more than $1,000 from five years earlier The Wall Street Journal reported
What Comes Next
While inflation has retreated from its 9% peak in 2022, The Times cautioned that Americans shouldn’t expect relief anytime soon New tariffs introduced by the Trump administration are expected to drive prices even higher in the months ahead With costs still climbing, many households are left with tough decisions about which necessities and experiences they can continue to afford We re often seeing the highest demand in the luxury space,” Sally French, a NerdWallet finance expert, said “People want the hotel that’s going to make for an amazing photo People are spending more on higher-end things they wouldn t have done in the past
Good Tr ouble
Five years later, in his memory and honor, “Good Trouble Lives On,” a string of protest events took place in more than 1,700 communities across the country July 17 A growing coalition of leaders says their ranks are growing to challenge President Trump's agenda and hopefully restore crucial public policies that he and his administration have destroyed We had more than 1700 events across the country Thursday night, and it was beautiful, said Barbara Arnwine, president/CEO of the Transformative Justice Coalition, and a coleader of Good Trouble Lives On
The flagship event for Good Trouble Lives On was held in Chicago with other rallies in major cities like Atlanta, St Louis and Washington, DC, but also in many smaller venues like Annapolis, Md ; Portland, Ore ; and San Diego, Calif
“People said that it couldn’t be done because they are too angry and were skeptical,” Arnwine said “But we started to organize and people Black and White took to the streets This is what Democracy looks like, said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, during the Chicago rally “Congressman John Lewis, a man who put his body on the line for Justice There are times when we must defy the status quo and push back against unjust laws and that time is now ”
One of the common themes about the Good Trouble Lives On events is that they are positive, diverse, and upbeat In Washington, DC Rep Al Green said in a TV interview that the march that Rep Lewis led across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965 was the “crown jewel of the City Rights Movement ”
In New York City protesters marched and chanted We want justice we want peace we want ICE off our streets!
In Deland, Fla , protesters yelled “This is what Democracy looks like!” and in St Louis, Denise Lieberman, director of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, said, “We are standing up for the freedom of all people ”
While many events are held in Washington DC Arnwine said she planned for a flagship, event to be held in Chicago because she had strong support from city officials as well as labor and Civil Rights leaders
The Mayor of Chicago spoke and even the Rev Jackson came in his wheelchair alongside labor and civil rights leaders ” said Arnwine noting that there were major turnouts in other cities
Chicago as chosen as the national flagship because of its bold and defiant Mayor Brandon Johnson, because it is the headquarters of Rev Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and it’s a union town ” Arnwine said “It also has great voting rights organizations and a wonderful chapter of Indivisible a progressive movement and organization that has vowed to fight against infringements upon civil rights gains
In Alabama, there were rallies in the cities of Dothan, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Birmingham and Huntsville In Selma there was a rally at the National Voting Rights Museum on Highway 80 near the spot where John Lewis was beaten on Bloody Sunday in 1965 This was a prelude to a larger statewide demonstration on August 6, 2025 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Acts and to continue the struggle to update and extend the provisions of the VRA which have been invalidated in recent years by Supreme Court decisions and state legislative acts
Arnwine says she is expecting the events to continue and grow including additional rallies later this summer In August a rally for voting rights, a labor rally in September as well as a rally in support of the Constitution
“Transformative Justice Coalition is pleased that more than 1,700 activations took place on July 17th through rallies teach-ins and marches now planned across America’s communities and neighborhoods in the spirit of getting in good trouble This has been created in honor of the late Congressman John Lewis, who coined the phrase Good Trouble
Arnwine said “John Lewis once famously quipped, ‘If not now, when If not us, then who?’”
We are determined to reach and activate every American impacted by the poorly thought-out, poorly calculated, and callous budget bill passed on our country s 249th birthday
While the majority of people impacted by these cuts are White, it will also have a significant impact on Black Brown and other communities of color
The nature of the struggle has changed It's a different era that requires a different response , Arnwine said The beautiful thing is that we are under attack, but we have each other's backs and there is more good trouble to come ”
•Additional Service Contracts 2025 – 2026 for the following employees at Robert Brown Middle School: (Separate Contract): Tavaris Lacy –Head Basketball (Girls/Boys) –
Rescind (approved at June 13, 2025 meeting); Tavaris Lacy – Head Basketball (Boys); Dequandra Lyles –Head Basketball (Girls The board approved the following administrative items
* Partnership between the University of Alabama Health Resources and Service Administration Implementation IV Project and the Greene County School District to target 5th grade students at Robert Brown Middle on helping to build positive character skills
* Memorandum of Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and The University of Alabama for the district s participation in BAMA-STOP School Violence Program
* Agreement between Greene County Board of
Notice of Appointment
Letters Testamentary of Mary Elizabeth Lavender, Deceased having been granted on the 11th day of June, 2025, by the Honorable Rolando M Wedgeworth, Judge of Probate for Greene County Alabama notice is hereby given that all persons having a claim against the estate are hereby required to present their claim within the time allowed by law, or the claim will be barred Paul Drake Lavender Jr and John D Lavender Jr
Co-Personal Representatives
Cynthia Lee Almond
Almond Attorneys
2704 8th Street
Tuscaloosa AL 35401
205-523-0198
3tcg 7/9 16 23
STATE OF ALABAMA
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
COLLECTION SERVICES DIVISION
INVITATION FOR
