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se rican-Amer o t in han Cooper. ican deathld quadruple The allegeddcuffs and ha New row inmate in ci Cooper’s 1som’s decision could d en Flori t wa making ouda Today reports t Hills famil 985 conviction in lead to the overtu t. y th rn A an e u in th k d g il o ling of a ru their 11-y ri Enough Of of has the Your Lovtie”es say t Californiapnotential, some polieatir-old house guest. ral Chino and a s. The case cal watcher s say, to d Both the C ivide aliforn and more an a dozenia and United States past appeath lo su w p er courts hav re ls. e rejectedmCe courts “I take no p ooper’s osition regar nocence at about the h this time,” Newsodming Mr. Cooper’s g uilt or inigh-profile said in his terest. N ca ex se free 2. When you see a photo or ad with the Observer 1. Get for that hby Yothe as downloading rk Tapp drawn inteecutive order Sen. Kamew im es ’ co rn lu al at m Interactive logo scan over the whole photo with your it from Google Play or The Apple App a io n is H n al in t Nic arri have all ca lled for res -tand reality TV starholas Kristof, U.S.tablet or smartphone. forensic Store technology. esting using curr Kim Kardashian SUL ent, more The ACLU gorilla suitPHUR, La. (AP) – P se n si an ti ve groups hav d other hu mattress befbroke into a Louisiaol man rights e also urged ore oCounty a deeper in an fficers arrest n Serving NewsKern ves gation California state o d social justice outl46 h et into Cooper fficials to la Gov. Newtiso sp quote Sued o for Over k es man Mel Es Years unch ’s convictio lphu m’s order F tion issued st o es ffi n in ce . rs saw Jerem Th test four by former Gov. riday expands previo ie Moran wursday costume. Th us direcrry Brown ey lowed analpyieces of crime scenJe h ad in son looking received caalkin D ember lls a into homes to an orange sts to perform DNe evidence. Brownec . Estes says prosecutorstowel; and the hanA re-testing on a t’sanorder al- bo M o p ra ro n ac ran into a hed but w dle and sh dies in the say Cooper T-shirt; as discover eath Ry In th new u charges incl ed investigatseiod in the murders. of a hatchet Joshua Ryen, theen’s home with a total u d of hair frois in g re tr sisting an hoidin y, meth poss victims’ 8-y wound on of 143 stab button Com the victims’ hannd, analysts will look es ea h w si is in ro o g in the San u o son, su throat. He In Louisian n and wearingffia c ffered a slnasds. the al was the old Bernardino tigators plaoper’s attorney No s, blood samples anat strands tack. a, a person in n p ly le h u g County are blic survivor of ations Coo nvicte Angeles Co nted at the scene rman Hile mainta d a green le After Coopers’s per’s attorn not surprise the at- D.A.’s office most. Excecan be sentencedco in g o ja u al f s n il ly ty th in ey b to d . p e v re st S s M ab esti uperior Co ay crime. A re ak thre ar vestigation o an o n ed , e u s ra y in t m ar in ci v o h ak e es al biases an f em freq olidays like al a ho in tigat also urt judge w . ti d discrimth Halloweenlowed for relig uently comg about their ill oversee rethd Los familsay they found eviduse next door to thors found, he il- complaints Cooper, 61 in It at an p ’s la io dM unclear if M e victims. ence in th y’s statio in abou are hand n in the e in, has main years. His g ment. oran has a ardi G tained his For some,nGwagon that tied Coe Ryen’s home and inThey unang prosecutor Miclehd. Just last month,way their cases ort lawy by Gov. Nlawyers hope the re in n o ce d a o ae er o n p th S v. l er ce an ing inGroup sults Newsom’sofo Southern ewso to thCalifornia Volume 46 Number November 6, 2019 over Observer e murders. e on so pressure for makin Selyem, who is W BernardWednesday, e caseNewspapers hel9 in p p o rder to broad is being met rove theirm, which could taokfe the re-testing orderthe of the th cial media. en mu ers Jo client’s inn ed him. His insultgscrude and racist anhdite, resigned shua Ryenwith dismay. The lonDNA test- chelle Obama, U ocence ansedveral months, will porters of rd an e ,S. Rep. M targeted former Firstcomments th su B d e finally exo lack shooti In 1 axine Water nerate they are disappoRyens and Hughesfamily, friends andrvivor n g v on four co9u85, a San Diego Co ic ti s and an uLnady Mi“Unfortunatinted with the gov all across the statesup- Lo Thomas R. Parkmer. named 26 and an nts of murder. At unty jury convicte s er , A el sa n a former d ngeles office y ep cord - incluescaped prison inmthe time of his arre d Cooper nfor justice in this cay,seover time it seemosr’s decision. , u b ty el head of the ieves This guy is o District st, he was e victims’ d FBI’s in Pennsylv ding several burglaate. His lengthy crim innocent,” Cooper. Attorney Jamatters less and leth esire “The evidence “Prior DN ries and the ania – did ss h in e ,” so al to S n an ld re A w n as A B th d er o not help his te er e p n n Cooper, form rape of a m st la so By Stacy M. Brown N ar th in n ew n d te e g icl sa d st th aimed wou Y , he was fr id in a stat and.” case. inor erly in 1958 nea housing. ld exoneratat Mr. Cooper sousubsidized amed, theork Times. ement. NNPA Newswire Correspondent What has k per’smost ght,Ifill’s r Pittsburgnamed Richard Go o e him have one of America’s journalists. cops lied guilt.esteemed ag re interest in journalism was rooted in her parents’ ep ” Bakersfield, CA – Funeral Services will be held for ed t a to th h d thsUnited fe , The 43rd stamp m inonthe States Postal m all confirm e case goin deral appel and Pennsylvan an, was born The Ystamp old, he was features a photo of Ifill et ed g la p ia D te er insistence that their children gather nightly in front of the M . Demetrius Tanner at 10 am on Saturday, November 9th, ad u an su W ec co ri r. o d as ng hhonors u h p u C Service’s Black Heritage series Gwen Ifill, iv ti en C te rt o o e ’s o d o n m is o h ar d an p an e o ec ch g er n umentsRobert d news, isioThe alive - will reviewaccording s and by n in 202019. and he spen ildhood, his par d renamed Kevin was sitaken x re in ie2008 KE FORETemple to watch the national to Location theLA Emmanuel allegphotographer based ontelevision is be the case wit 04 to st atio Gov. New ST, CalifChurch, asand ents physica is re CooperSeveri t a good p conflicting onabdesigned of eviden ay hisLane, byns Derry Noyes, h more sc431 coverinCA le so juvenile det . HistoryMakers. q m ex Brundage Bakersfield, 93304. u D ’s ce es g ar N ll d te ti ie af t ta y ec A o n st o te m n ab ti ision to al igatorsto test r being stru. (AP) – Offic s about the peringIn fic evidwill yon road infollowing. ing co Service. usethe , kee encebe a mental h ention centers. Inf adolescence living used himaccording d toPostal low anothRepass mes earlHigh 1973, Ifill graduated from Classical School Holy Temple methods an p raisin ck b . immediately California naiAfrican S o u l C th y at g o in ea erRd., er ta 1 in o 9 n CBakersfield, ck lt p d G se 8 ro th er h Among the first Americans to 2 , stories invesMassachusetts. ovyears veral . Three wea , e term oChurch facility in P alifornia. y a polic and in swo nd oinf Christ, L ernorlater, agunEa B California. in Springfield, shesureceived of uGod 1001 Planz have highFour w f h ea o th p ti rn se ch th ennsylvanCiaooper escaped from o e n re th s te P p ex e olice O ce werB.A. rogressive pCollege e Oran stimobroadcast attacker hold prominent positions both porters onCA 93307. pectatioSimmons e usedegree ny, Joshua her before mov d in in communications s ho win ns. Duri r Tho as the politica NA testfrom uld journalism, someone’sgep County Register ffi Rinyen e Wahit ing toand co print Ifillerwas trailblazer have beenwH said he sathwe solve “D l Left ing should gued that nCg his murder trial, Boston. e. he initiallm H et e w la th h is te en p r e o p im F an te o R ro eb th F p st ic m y se u in the profession. . e er en ifi . ed rt 1 cu ca ed k 9. her compli ia Ryen, th illed husb t darted in y th case andatfithe Boston tors succ “During that thher Chianyear, ey senior g saidsheduinterned cating the29, nally ensuterely take place to re front Ifillnam wasedborn on September 1955, M ri cG neighboreiCr 10-year-old daughand and wife Dougesansfully ar- ban D n p Herald American newspaper,” the biography reads. g ro ia u th ir n th se at e says when a Roper cam justice is se cutions’ clai e campaign DNA eviden eloYork. ter Jessica an hristopher th d n e P g in New an eg in rv h e g g im . m y e ed fo “N to s, ce al She later worked at the Baltimore Evening Sun, the g rw ,” b o a her former ot nly is it Hughes. Po can help law d was ut testing in t out to chec w mard with blo al. Sfather, boyfrSr., lice foundan 11-year-old in he turnO. Her Ifill, proven Animal Cobigger than a house enforcemoen this Times ody clothoin iendserved Post, and the York moving case wobefore ed Urcille who wasWashington the ev the bloodie as andesAfrican EvNew n t g u tr so ld en t. o to tr lv l id co o o th an e a y ffi en m Methodist Episcopal minister cr o ed v ce u an io ce e im d gh Newsom it. rs rushed ca at no cost to imal hospit es, tr over to the over tolenNBC is bold, he t crimNews. the ble ’s al th au p Afrfrom , d is o w ec e m who hailed Panama. li tr h ican Americ st is ceIn a. ea er at io , d e e. n b 1999, Ifill became the first African American in is it ” u in su g t w they carefully on e that alif as diagnose the Cooper ans, H Her mother, Eleanor Husbands, ispanics an was woman to host Dr. Kristi K orniatalk a potential case a prominent political show national watching. C vote d other min rs acon rause, a vet ly sh ro p H e o ss e ex la from Barbados. th is ri p ec zi e o k er n p ri ts the 11-p eeping and television she became moderator g bac oliti tieswhen arian, tells liv- C his fomanaging ound (5-kin ontinued Week and k into the w th According to Ifill’s 2012 biography editor of PBS’s s on fairncaesl spectrum are Washington political ilogram) ca on page A senior cu il d s and justic af te t to r 2 M and interview with The HistoryMakers, her correspondent for The PBS NewsHour. it cG re g u ai e ir n e s stsays visited Wild NAPERVILLE, – Buffalo rength. thatIll.if (AP) the bWings father’s ministry required the family to live in e seesfired Ifill died at the age of 61 on November 14, 2016. cat on Fri it agataione multiple employees have hbeen ofll itsobsuburban n , h several cities in different church parsonages e’ is sueAfrican “She was the most American of success stories,” Chicago restaurants after a group of mostly a tick day. throughout New England. Sherrilynn Ifill, a law professor, director of the NAACP American customers said they were asked to move toet for j The stamp features a photo of Ifill taken in 2008 by Those stops also included Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Legal Defense Fund, and Gwen Ifill’s cousin told NBC photographer Robert Severi and designed by Derry another table because of their skin color. and New York, where the family resided in federally News. “Her life and her work made this country better.” Noyes, according to the Postal Service. The Naperville Sun reports Buffalo Wild Wings spokeswoman Claire Kudlata said Sunday the company conducted a thorough internal investigation and “terminated the employees involved.’’ Kudlata said via email that the company “has zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind.’’ Justin Vahl of Montgomery says he was celebrating a birthday last month with children and adults at the Naperville restaurant when a host asked about his ethnicity. Vahl says a manager later asked his group to move because a regular customer didn’t want to sit near black people. They left for another restaurant after several managers tried to move them.
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Private, Online Therapy Could be Best Choice when Help is Needed
By Candace J. Semien, Jozef Syndicate reporter From her virtual private practice in Baton Rouge, Shameka Mitchell Williams (SW) helps people who are overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted. Her focus is singular: help them recover from pernicious experiences and toxic relationships. “I hold space for people who are hurt and confused to talk about what that relationship or marriage is really like without any judgment about how they should feel,” she says. A graduate of Louisiana State University and Washington University in St. Louis, Williams is a licensed clinical social worker who practices in Louisiana and Texas. She says she believes in the importance of helping her clients understand how their thinking shapes their experience and also how they are influenced by societal systems. Williams, who is the owner of The Chrysalis Center, LLC, is one of 300 licensed therapists in Louisiana who offers online video counseling according to the Psychology Today database. This Pensiri: A Talk with Shameka Mitchell Williams explores online video therapy, who can benefit from it, and why. As a therapist with more than a decade of experience in community-based programs, schools, psychiatric hospitals, and correctional facilities, you’ve seen mental health professionals expand their services from in-person counseling to teletherapy and now to online video therapy. How should we be defining therapy and who can practice or treat people with therapeutic needs? SW: Therapy is a specialized, systematic, formal interaction between a mental health professional and a client (an individual, couple, family, or group) during which a therapeutic relationship is established to help resolve symptoms of mental disorder, psychosocial stress, relationship problems, and/or difficulties coping in the social environment. It is also to help the client achieve specified goals for well-being. The term “therapy” is used interchangeably with counseling. While many therapists provide both therapy and counseling, not every counselor is qualified to provide therapy. The term “counselor” is often applied to highly trained mental health, education, or legal professionals, but it is also used for volunteers with minimal training and for paid workers who provide guidance and structure in group settings (as in camp and dorm hall counselors). Is virtual or online therapy a growing service among practitioners? When did it begin? SW: Online therapy is definitely a growing service. It
Former NAACP Leader Mfume to Run for Congress
A graduate of Louisiana State University and Washington University in St. Louis, Shameka Mitchell Williams is a licensed clinical social worker who practices in Louisiana and Texas. She says she believes in the
importance of helping her clients understand how their thinking shapes their experience and also how they are influenced by societal systems.
Today, many clinicians offer a mix of in-person and online services, and some offer online services exclusively. There even exists an International Society for Mental Health Online, which formed in 1997. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)
may have first begun taking shape as early as the 1960s, and it began growing as most people know it today in the early 2000s. Earlier names for it included teletherapy and telemental health care since clinicians started offering sessions by telephone before beginning to utilize email, chats, and video. Today, many clinicians offer a mix of inperson and online services, and some offer online services exclusively. There even exists an International Society for Mental Health Online, which formed in 1997. How can we tell if we need or could benefit from
therapy? (in general) SW: If you are experiencing distressing changes in your normal mood or functioning that are present more days than not for a period of at least two weeks, you may want to consider consulting with a professional. It can be good to start with talking to a medical professional to rule out any physiological reasons for the changes. Should there be some type of diagnosis or referral to seek therapy? Continued on Page A6
National Museum of Black Music “This museum tells the story of not only the musical contributions of Black people in America, but also the personal stories behind those who paved the way in creating these genres and making them global phenomena. We’re excited and encouraged that we have a diverse team of marketing professionals leading this project and that the team reflects both the content in the museum and the local Nashville community,” said H. Beecher Hicks, III, NMAAM President and CEO.
NASHVILLE, TENN. (November 2019) — When the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) officially opens its doors in the summer of 2020, it will be a first-of-its-kind cultural institution that celebrates the tradition of the people behind Black music and the music’s significant impact on the soundtrack of American society. Located in the heart of Downtown Nashville, Tennessee, the museum will be the newest crown jewel to Nashville’s royal musical landscape. In support of its pending grand opening, NMAAM leadership has tapped into an all-star “band” of creative agencies to lead the marketing communications push and drive interest and excitement with future guests. Now that the museum space at Fifth + Broadway has been secured, gallery and artifact layouts have been completed and construction is underway, NMAAM’s team of creative agencies, led by agency of record Authentique Agency, will deliver on the overall brand strategy, marketing execution, public relations, advertising, experiential marketing and special events. The NMAAM agency team is a collection of award-winning marketing professionals from around the country who
reflect the diversity and content of the museum as well as the homegrown pride and musical spirit of Nashville. “As the first ever museum solely dedicated to the preservation and advancement of Black Music, we were very intentional about being relevant and inclusive when building the marketing team for our grand opening,” said H. Beecher Hicks, III, NMAAM President and CEO. “This museum tells the story of not only the musical contributions of Black people in America, but also the personal stories behind those who paved the way in creating these genres and making them global phenomena. We’re excited and encouraged that we have a diverse team of marketing professionals leading this project and that the team reflects both the content in the museum and the local Nashville community.” Lead agency Authentique based in Atlanta, Georgia, has been working with NMAAM since 2017 and was officially named lead Agency of Record in July 2019. The Authentique Agency is a full-service marketing consulting firm focused on leveraging the power of identity. A certified minority and LGBT-owned firm, Authentique is intentional about creating brand campaigns that genuinely reflect multicultural and LGBTQ life, voices and viewpoints. The agency believes that to build affinity, a brand must observe the intersectionality of cultural identity, and account for how it influences a consumers’ decision-making. Learn more about Authentique at AuthentiqueAgency.com. Additional supporting agencies include: • Flowers Communications Group (FCG) is responsible for national and multicultural media relations in support of NMAAM. FCG is an award-winning, certified minority-and woman-owned integrated marketing communications firm based in Chicago, Illinois with nearly 30 years of experience creating connections with some of the world’s most iconic
The National Museum of African American Music, set to open in the summer of 2020, will be the only museum dedicated solely to preserving African American music traditions and celebrating the influence African Americans have had on music.
brands and diverse consumer audiences. For more information, visit ExploreFCG.com. • MP&F Strategic Communications headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee is spearheading local and regional media relations along with community relations support for NMAAM throughout the greater Tennessee area. MP&F is an award-winning, full service public relations firm that has been developing high-impact strategic communications for local, regional and national clients for more than 30 years. Learn more at MPF.com. • Go West Creative Group headquartered in Nashville has signed on to lead experiential efforts associated Continued on Page A6
BALTIMORE (AP) – A former leader of the NAACP says he will run for the Maryland congressional seat that became vacant with the death of U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings. Kweisi Mfume (kwah-EE-see oom-FOO-may) announced his plans Monday to regain the seat he held before leading the civil rights organization. Mfume currently serves as the chairman of Morgan State University’s board of regents. He represented Maryland’s 7th Congressional District from 1987 to 1996. The district stretches across parts of Baltimore and Howard and Baltimore counties. Gov. Larry Hogan has set a special primary for Feb. 4, and a special general election for April 28. Also running are Democratic state Del. Talmadge Branch and Republican Liz Matory, who has lost two previous congressional races. Cummings died Oct. 17 at the age of 68.
Bill Clinton Among Those Honoring Conyers at Funeral DETROIT (AP) – Former President Bill Clinton has told a crowd of people at the funeral for former Congressman John Conyers that he not only represented people in his district, but those around the country and “even around the world on the things we should all care about.’’ Clinton was among the speakers at Monday’s services at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit. Conyers died Oct. 27 at age 90 at his Detroit home, two years after resigning from Congress where he served for 50 years. He first was elected in 1964 and was a founder of the Congressional Black Caucus. Conyers also is credited with creating the federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. His legacy was damaged in 2017 following allegations that he sexually harassed female staffers. He denied the allegations but eventually stepped down, citing health reasons.
Racial Disparities in Utah Prisons
OGDEN, Utah (AP) – A proposal to study how implicit racial biases may play into the disproportionate number of minorities in the Utah prison system is in the works for the 2020 legislative session. Republican state Rep. Marsha Judkins of Provo told the Standard-Examiner she is working on a prosecution transparency bill that would require the collection of data about arrest, charging, sentencing and parole decisions to determine how they may be contributing to racial disparities. Of people newly sentenced to prison in 2017, 43% were racial or ethnic minorities, according to the Utah Sentencing Commission. Minorities made up just 20% of the population overall that year, census data showed. Statistics like those point to clear racial disparities, but without specific data it’s hard to determine what’s driving it, Judkins said. “This blind spot is due to our lack of specific data on the intermediate steps in the criminal justice system,’’ she said. The issue is also important because prison population is rising faster than any other state but Idaho, she said. Prosecutors have incredible power in the criminal justice system, but little of their work is public, Judkins said. They decide who to prosecute, what to charge, when to plea bargain or dismiss cases and what prison sentences to recommend. Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings said he would not oppose an effort to gather data if it’s paid for by the state. Rawlings said he believes the numbers would ultimately show the decisions made by prosecutors in his office aren’t clouded by bias. Former public defender Jason Groth said gathering more information could be an important first step. “It’s hard to be critical of yourself as an individual and your office as well,’’ Groth said. “It feels like you’re being called a racist.’’