KIPP Truth Academy 5th graders take Civil Rights Tour

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Shawn Williams

BY INDRIA HOLLINGSWORTH

On May 4, buses filled with more than 50 excited 5th graders and left from KIPP Truth Academy for a tour of important civil rights destinations. Kipp Academy is a college-preparatory middle school, located in Oak Cliff.

The school is dedicated to student success and embraces the challenge of removing the barriers to education for all students—regardless of background. Fifth grade students attending the trip worked all year to earn their place on the bus; embarking on a week long Civil Rights Field Lesson complimenting the Civil Rights materials students had been studying.

Selma, Alabama was the first stop on the tour. KIPPsters reverently walked across the Edmond Pettus Bridge, site of the infamous conflict on “Bloody Sunday” where armed officers attacked peaceful civil rights demonstrators. At the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, students visited the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, the cornerstone of the contemporary struggle for voting rights.

KIPPsters went on to Birmingham, anxious to visit the church where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr pastored from 1954 – 1960: Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. It was at Dexter than Dr. King began his quest for civil rights, which was a center point for the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Students saw the modest pulpit where Dr. King preached his message of hope and brotherhood.

The final city on the tour was Atlanta, Georgia. During their first day in A.T.L., KIPPsters visited Turner Field, the World of Coca-Cola and were welcomed at the CNN Center, where they met journalist Wolf Blizter. Day Two in Atlanta was filled with a visit to The King Center -the living memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. King- and Morehouse College, King’s Alma Mater. Last stops for the KIPPsters before returning to Dallas, were the Georgia Aquarium and Atlanta Underground.

When students arrived back in Dallas late on May 8th, they came back with something they did not have before they left…memories that will last a lifetime.

For more information about KIPP TRUTH Academy, please visit www.kipptruth.org

Should I use exercise machines or free weights?

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Shawn Williams

BY JASON JOHNSON

If you have the option, opt for free weights. The gold standard in strength & conditioning is to perform an exercise using free weights (dumbbells or a barbell). Why? You’ll burn more calories by engaging your stabilizer muscles. Translation-it’s more challenging. More challenge = more muscles being worked = more calories burned.

When you sit down in a machine, you are working through a fixed range of motion, you’re essentially allowing your nervous system to get lazy because it doesn’t have to recruit any stabilizer muscles during the move to ensure you move efficiently. For example, performing a seated machine shoulder press.

You are only engaging your shoulders (primary) and triceps (secondary). Instead-try performing a standing dumbbell shoulder press. You’re now recruiting more muscles. You are working your shoulders, triceps, your core is now involved, and your various stabilizers (in your hips, shoulder complex and lower leg) are being called on to control and balance your body while pressing the dumbbells overhead.

Take home message: more challenge = more muscles being worked = more calories burned = better results for you!

Neighborsgo.com compounds Morning News’ mischaracterization of Pleasant Grove and Southeast Dallas

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Shawn Williams

I was recently introduced to the Dallas Morning News’ foray into the community web space at Neighborsgo.com. I’m not here to say whether it’s good or bad, but I did want to share an observation that I made while looking through how they were covering Dallas.

At the top of the page, there are three steps to customize news delivery, starting with “pick a community.” When you click the arrow there you get a drop down menu with municipalities spread across a range of counties throughout North Texas. There are a number of communities covered by Dallas, such as Dallas – Bluffview, Dallas – North Oak Cliff, Dallas – M Streets, Dallas – South Oak Cliff, Dallas – Park Cities, and others.

There’s a lot of meat here. and I’ll probably chew over it and see what I can spit out over the next few weeks, but for now, I’ll concentrate on what I saw as an awful omission – or so I thought. I wondered where were the Southeast Dallas communities. That would obviously start with the largest of the bunch, Pleasant Grove, but also include areas like Piedmont, Buckner Terrrace, Urbandale/Parkdale.

I scrolled down and then right under Plano – W. Plano I saw PLEASANT GROVE. Now that was strange. North Oak Cliff….Dallas, South Dallas….Dallas, Lake Highlands…..Dallas, Pleasant Grove……not.

Rawlins Gilliland has been on the Dallas Morning News about this for some time now, and while it can sometimes seem like he’s being a stickler about what makes up Southeast Dallas I agree with him that Pleasant Grove shouldn’t be used as a panacea term.

Why is it that we accept Lakewood, Lake Highlands, and the M Streets as separate entities, but not Pleasant Grove, Piedmont, and Buckner Terrace? But even more troubling is that Pleasant Grove is out on an island, separated from the rest of the city.

I’ve admitted that Southeast Dallas has been a true weakness in my understanding of our city. You could drop me in nearly any neighborhood in Dallas and Collin County and I could find my way home. But if you told me that a million dollars was waiting for me at Spruce or Samuell High School right now, I couldn’t get there without the aid of GPS.

I thought that the Morning News’ North-South Gap project missed an opportunity to educate Dallas residents about the distinct communities in Southeast Dallas. And even if they didn’t feel the need to go there, at least they could ensure that all Dallas Morning News properties use proper identification of this area.

In some of the “Community” articles in the paper, you’ll see people in the same story being listed from “Dallas” “Dallas” “Coppell” and “Pleasant Grove.” How can one person be from Dallas and another from Pleasant Grove? If one is from Pleasant Grove, then the others should be listed by neighborhood as well for consistency sake.

Anyway, I’ve really been enlightened by finding out more about my own city and the different characteristics of areas like Pemberton Hills, Parkdale, and Piedmont. Rawlins actually road me around one day and gave me a unique look at the Trinity Forest and varied topography of Southeast Dallas. While I personally had a good understanding of what constituted Pleasant Grove, I hadn’t a clue about most of the other communities or the unique charm that defines them.

At the very least, Neighborsgo.com can move Pleasant Grove up with rest of Dallas. We’ll save Southeast Dallas and breaking down the neighborhoods for another day.

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Roundup

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Shawn Williams

Here are some of the important developments that came out of Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson’s office last week.

CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON ANNOUNCES $1 MILLION TXDOT GRANT

Funding will be used for 2.6 mile road in Tarrant County

Washington, DC – (May 15, 2009) Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today announced that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will receive a $1 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration for the construction of a 2.6 mile project in Tarrant County.

The project will consist of a six-lane road from State Highway 114 to Dove Road and a four-lane road from Dove Road to Randol Mill Road. The funding was allocated by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), the economic recovery package that Congress passed and President Obama signed in February. Congresswoman Johnson was the only Member of Congress from North Texas to vote for ARRA.

“This project will incorporate cutting-edge transportation technology that will yield a stronger and safer road, which thousands of North Texans rely on for travel each day,” Congresswoman Johnson said. “I am delighted to see our state’s share of economic recovery funding utilized to bolster our region’s infrastructure and put people to work at such an expeditious rate. I commend Secretary LaHood and his team for the outstanding job they are doing in getting funds out the door and allocated quickly.”

Construction on the project is expected to begin in fall of 2009.

CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON BACKS SCHOOL MODERNIZATION LEGISLATION

21^st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act passes House 275-155

Washington, DC – (May 14, 2009) Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today voted for H.R. 2187, the 21^st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act. H.R. 2187 authorizes $6.4 billion for fiscal year 2010 for the modernization, renovation and repair of school facilities, guaranteeing each district a minimum of $5,000. The legislation passed the House by a vote of 275-155.

“Students can’t reach their full potential in inadequate school facilities,” Congresswoman Johnson said. “Simple factors like lighting, noise and poor air quality can have a serious effect on student learning gains and behavior. This legislation will make our schools safer, healthier and more conducive to learning for our young people. It will also make them more energy-efficient, putting people to work in the process.”

School districts located or partially located in the 30^th District of Texas will receive the following amounts of funding:

School District Amount
Cedar Hill ISD $489,000
Dallas ISD      $38,532,000
Desoto ISD      $783,000
Duncanville ISD $1,166,000
Ferris ISD      $154,000
Irving ISD      $4,228,000
Lancaster ISD   $509,000
Mesquite ISD    $3,619,000

Total $49,480,000

The 21^st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act will also authorize an additional $600 million over six years for public schools that were damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON STATEMENT ON FUNDING STATUS FOR DALLAS ISD LEARNING CENTERS AND MAGNET SCHOOLS

Washington, DC – (May 14, 2009) Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today released the following statement about the status of funding for Dallas Independent School District (ISD) Learning Centers and Magnet Schools:

“I remain greatly concerned about the status of funding for Dallas ISD Learning Centers and Magnet Schools. Over the past weeks, I’ve been in close contact with the Department of Education, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Superintendent Michael Hinojosa regarding potential funding cuts within the Magnet Schools and Learning Centers. In particular, there are outstanding questions as to whether or not the Learning Center programs may gain a waiver from being required to meet comparable funding requirements.

“All Title I schools must meet comparability requirements in order to receive Title I funding. If Dallas ISD is found to be in violation it could potentially lose Title I funding, which is approximately $105 million.

“The Department of Education and the Texas Education Agency are closely reviewing all of Dallas ISD’s comparability numbers in order to determine what, if any, funding cuts need to be made. Dallas ISD has been working hard to get TEA all the necessary data, but it is my understanding from TEA and the Department of Education that there is still outstanding data that it needs to review. The Department of Education will not be able to give a determination until they can review all of this information.

“Based on these circumstances, I have called on Dallas ISD Board of Trustees President Jack Low to delay tonight’s vote on the budgetary measures that will result in funding and staff cuts for the Learning Centers and Magnets. While I understand the need to plan for next year and reposition staff, I also believe that final determinations from TEA and the Department of Education are integral to this funding decision. We should not make cuts to these schools and programs until we know what is required under law. I have been assured that the Department of Education will make a prompt determination once it has the necessary data, so I do not advocate a lengthy delay to this vote.

“It is my hope that the Board of Trustees will take this under advisement, and I will continue to do my part in working with the Department of Education to receive an answer on what funding cuts may be necessary in a timely manner. I will continue to work with Dallas ISD to get the best possible result for our schools.”

CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON VOTES TO PROTECT CREDIT CARDHOLDERS

House passes Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights 357-70

Washington, DC – (April 30, 2009) Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today voted in favor of H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 357-70.

“Credit card companies have been taking advantage of cardholders with misleading and deceptive practices,” Congresswoman Johnson said. “The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights levels the playing field between credit card issuers and cardholders and brings much-needed oversight to the credit card industry.

“This legislation protects consumers from excessive fees and incomprehensible agreements, and it bans retroactive interest rate hikes on existing balances, double-cycle billing and due date gimmicks,” Congresswoman Johnson continued. “It also prevents credit card companies from issuing credit cards to minors under the age of 18. The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights is bipartisan, common-sense legislation that is long overdue.”

The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights:

· Ends unfair, arbitrary interest rate agreements;

· Bans excessive “over-the-limit” fees;

· Ends unfair penalties for cardholders who pay on time;

· Requires fair allocation of consumer payments, preventing the practice of applying payments to lowest interest rate balances first;

· Requires companies to mail billing statements 21 calendar days before the due date, up from the current requirement of 14 days;

· Prevents companies from using misleading terms and damaging consumers’ credit ratings;

· Protects vulnerable consumers from high-fee subprime credit cards;

· Bars issuing credit cards to minors; and

· Requires better data collection from credit card industry

The House of Representatives passed a bill with similar provisions in the 110^th Congress by a vote of 312-112.

NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION RISES, REVEALING NEW STORY OF HUNGER

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Shawn Williams

Organization Distributes 3 Million More Meals, Sees Increase in First-Time Clients
at Member Food Pantries & Feeding Programs

First Summer Fundraising Campaign Launched to Help Meet Needs During Recession

DALLAS (May 14, 2009) — Hunger is not a new issue, but it now has a new story. As the unemployment rate continues to climb, thousands of North Texans who never dreamed they would need help from a food bank are now having a hard time putting food on the table for the first time, in the wake of layoffs, lost savings and other financial hardships during the recession. The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is launching its first-ever summer awareness and fundraising campaign to help bolster public support and meet the growing community need.

North Texas Food Bank Stories of Hunger

Overall, the NTFB has distributed 3 million more meals this year compared to last year. Additionally, in the last six months member food pantries and other agencies to which the NTFB supplies food have seen a significant 35 percent jump in the number of new clients reaching out for help for the first time – - a possible indicator of how the economic downturn is impacting the middle income and working poor.

Starting this month, the organization is launching an aggressive campaign to help raise awareness and much-needed funds. A first-of-its-kind summer fundraising focus for the NTFB, the campaign features billboard, radio and online PSAs with the touching new stories of today’s hunger, such as:

Twins at 24. Single mom at 27. Hungry Today…Promoted at 29. Laid off at 34. Hungry Today…
Empty Nest at 57. Empty Pantry at 84. Hungry Today.

The PSAs also point out the hard-hitting and often surprising facts of the North Texas hungry. For example, 40 percent of households served by the NTFB have at least one employed adult.

“These new stories of hunger may be outside the stereotype, but they are all too real. We are urging the community to help out now more than ever, as the recession hits home for our neighbors – - the workers who once had steady jobs and find themselves suddenly out of work, or the single mothers who are scrambling to earn enough to put food on the table for their children,” explains NTFB President and CEO Jan Pruitt. “Whether a one-time donation or starting a virtual food drive through our Web site, everyone can help make a difference. Even just $1 feeds four hungry North Texans.”

Pruitt applauds both individual donations and corporate support for helping the NTFB to purchase and supply more food to the growing number of children, families and seniors who need food assistance, but points out that the usual lull in summer giving could impact services going forward.

“Hunger does not take a summer vacation,” explains Pruitt, “While we typically receive 47 percent of annual donations during the winter holiday season, the recession has made the need for year-round giving all the more urgent. We hope the summer campaign will bring the issue of hunger and our important mission to the forefront for the community.”

The summer campaign, developed by Dallas-based branding and creative agency RSW Creative, is part of NTFB’s new three-year Close the Gap initiative to unite the community in narrowing the food gap. Campaign billboards will run in high-profile locations such as the North Dallas Tollway at LBJ Freeway and Trinity Mills. PSAs will also run online and on local radio stations. Supporters can learn more about the campaign, make tax-deductible donations or find out about volunteer opportunities by visiting ntfb.org.

About North Texas Food Bank
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a nonprofit hunger relief organization that distributes donated, purchased and prepared foods through a network of feeding programs in 13 North Texas counties. The NTFB supports the nutritional needs of children, families and seniors through education, advocacy and strategic partnerships. Close the Gap is the NTFB’s 3-year initiative to unite the community to narrow the food gap by providing access to 50 million meals annually.

Founded in 1982, the NTFB is a certified member of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network). Last year 26 million meals were distributed. Each month agency pantries distribute food to more than 50,000 families and on-site meal programs serve 435,000 meals/snacks. Every dollar donated to the NTFB provides four meals for the hungry. Out of every dollar donated, 97 cents goes directly to hunger relief programs. To learn more about NTFB, visit ntfb.org.

HR 848: CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON NO LONGER CO-SPONSOR OF CONTROVERSIAL BILL

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Shawn Williams

I just received word that Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson is no longer a co-sponsor of HR 848, legislation that was proposed by Rep. John Conyers. Many have voiced concerns that the bill which would require radio stations to pay royalties to music artists would be the death of black radio. A statements from Congresswoman Johnson is forthcoming.

Dallas Bar Association/Press Club of Dallas host Redefining “News” in the Digital Age: Shawn Williams panelist

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Shawn Williams

This Thursday May 21st, members of the news media and the legal community will convene a HAPPY HOUR and PANEL DISCUSSION about the evolving newsroom, the future of investigative reporting, citizen journalism, and legal issues related to “new media.” The event is Co-Sponsored by the Media Relations Committee of the Dallas Bar Association, and the Press Club of Dallas.

I’ve been asked to serve as a panelist for the evening and represent the citizen journalist point of view. I’d love to see members of the Dallas South Family join me for this discussion at the Belo Mansion on Thursday. You can RSVP to dhutchinson@dallasbar.org . Here are my fellow panelists for Thursday.

PANELISTS:

Tom Williams, media lawyer, Haynes & Boone LLP

Bennett E. Cunningham, Channel 11 investigative reporter & licensed attorney

Toby Shook, former prosecutor, Fitzpatrick Hagood Smith & Uhl LLP

Doug Swanson, Dallas Morning News investigative/projects reporter

Shawn P. Williams, DallasSouthBlog.com publisher/editor

Who: Dallas Bar Association and Press Club of Dallas

What: Redefining “News” in the Digital Age

Where: The Belo Mansion; 2101 Ross Avenue, Dallas – Garage Parking Available (enter from Olive Street)

When: Thursday May 21st, 2009

5:15 p.m. — Happy Hour Begins
5:45 to 6:45 p.m. — Panel Discussion

Southern Dallas Voter Editorial leads to Letter from Commissioner John Wiley Price

Posted on May 17, 2009 by Shawn Williams

There’s a pretty good little dust up going on at the Dallas Morning News Opinion Blog. It revolves around low voter turnout in Southern Dallas for last week’s election. The comments section has digressed into a discussion of DISD and ironically enough this post will too.

OK, so here are a few excerpts from the Editorial Piece on voter turnout (Southern Dallas Squanders Election Opportunity).

When it comes to choosing leaders for southern Dallas, Saturday’s election results offer troubling insights into voters’ vision of the future. The people haven’t spoken; they yawned.

Of particular concern was District 7 anchored in historic South Dallas, where seven challengers ran to unseat incumbent City Council member Carolyn Davis. Still, only 3,939 voters showed up – barely 1 in 10 of those registered – and Davis got into a June 13 runoff against Dallas schools trustee Ron Price.

District 7 voters passed up the opportunity to elect the Rev. Donald Parish, whose record of leadership made him the best choice. This newspaper cannot, in good faith, recommend Davis or Price for a job neither deserves.

When southern Dallas residents complain about lousy code enforcement, crumbling streets or lack of jobs, the first question they must ask themselves is what they have done to improve their own lives. The No. 1 action available is to study candidates’ record and vote.

And here are parts of Commissioner Price’s response:

Your editorial was a biting indictment of southern-sector voters. It is one that I believe was one-sided and unfair, especially to your readers who don’t know this city’s history.

As a longtime student of Dallas’ political machinations, I can tell you that money drives voters…..Traditionally, campaigns north of the Trinity are funded at least 10 times that of their southern counterparts — whether they produce the votes or not.

There is no excuse, and I share your concern that the voting bloc was too low in southern Dallas. However, I would remind you that when there is an initiative that must be approved, South Dallas comes through.

Price goes on to suggests that Belo -the parent company of The Morning News- has been one of the biggest benefactors of Southern Dallas voters via the American Airlines Center (which Belo 8 sits in front of) and the Convention Center Hotel which will lie near a number of Belo properties.

My take…..the tone of the Morning News editorial board was a bit extreme and I’m guessing it has something to do with the time the feel they’ve invested in Southern Dallas. I’m not a big fan of the Editorial endorsement/recommendation, even though their thoughts on District 7 aren’t far off. But giving Southern Dallas voters a pen lashing isn’t accomplishing much in my opinion.

Someone asked me why none of the young candidates that I supported in Southern Dallas were able to break through. My theory was that the council as a whole has been better than it’s individual parts. The fact that meetings no longer degenerate into shouting matches and near brawls is progress – unfortunately.

In one of my Rants on Channel 8′s Inside Texas Politics, I suggested that Dallas deserves better leadership. I still believe that. But if Dallas voters -especially in South Dallas’ District 7- don’t agree with me, I’m not of a mind to chastise them for it.

It’s frustrating across the board, but the young guns knew it was going to take unusually high voter turnout to help them get over the hump. They were expecting some of the Obama voters coming back to the polls for a May municipal election. Didn’t happen.

Last year, Roland Martin suggested we should vote on the first Saturday of November for the Presidential Election. Sounds good in theory, but if the goal is to increase voter turnout, you’d only get a slight change. Those who want to vote find a way. With 32 states allowing no excuse pre-Election Day voting, how much of a difference could moving the general to Saturday really make? Saturday didn’t do candidates any favors here last week.

Still while Southern Dallas was called out, the turnout here wasn’t that different from the rest of Dallas County.

Dallas County Voting May 9, 2009

Registered Voters:	1,222,609
Ballots Cast:	129,777
Voter Turnout:	10.61 %

I talked to friends last Saturday in every part of North Texas who sat out municipal elections. Meanwhile my pregnant wife wobbled in (sorry sweetie) to T.W. Browne and cast her vote in the District 3 Council race and on Props 1 & 2.

Like Commissioner Price said: there is no excuse. Southern Dallas -or anywhere with a high African-American population concentration- should have double the turnout as other parts of town on election day. After the poll taxes, grandfather clauses and voter intimidation that our forefathers endured, black folks should run to the ballot box even if they take the Brewster’s Millions approach: None of the Above.

But that’s not the case and it’s sad. And it makes the job of community advocates that much harder because not only do have you have to fight the proverbial man (a.k.a. institutional racism), but also the internal apathy that plagues our community.

Today on Freddie Haynes Unscripted Pastor Haynes was discussing how President Obama’s stimulus package affects DISD and how the better funding of schools could help the districts poor graduations rates. He did this in honor of the 55th Anniversary of Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education.

There is absolutely no doubt that inner city schools need a makeover. In our neighborhood, waking on the campus of Justin Kimball and T.W. Browne is like stepping back into the 50′s. It’s shameful, and yet the teachers there make the best of what they’ve got. Schools like Kimball exist across the U.S., and their students deserve to have access to the latest and greatest technology.

Yet if parents do not become partners in the education system, then the gains made by these investments will only be incremental. We’ve got to stop making pointing the finger in one direction without looking at the problems on the other end as well.

Ironically enough I just listened to a sermon that my Uncle Jimmy has been hounding me about for a couple of months now. It was more of a lecture by Dr. Mack King Carter at the National Baptist Convention USA’s Congress of Christian Education. Carter preached a familiar text from Genesis -The Creation Story- that was also the foundation of Dr. Juwanzaa Kunjufu’s book. Dr. Carter’s thesis: No Excuses.

Until we expect better from one another -to be better neighbors, better stewards, better consumers, better builders, better voters- our community won’t be taken seriously. Our voting muscles should not be reserved for “big ticket” items and national elections. As the great Pogo said: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

Senator Royce West: The Austin Report

Posted on May 16, 2009 by Shawn Williams

Dear Friends:

As the countdown begins toward adjournment of the 81st Regular Legislative Session, I can assure you that much more work will be done during this critical period at the Capitol.

I believe the capstone of this legislative session will be the birth of the first public law school in Dallas, Texas. Senate Bill 956 has passed both chambers and we have turned our focus to the appropriation of funds necessary for classes to begin in the fall of 2010.

This occurs almost simultaneously with the ascent of the University of North Texas – Dallas into the ranks of full, stand-alone status. Many hours of labor and years of perseverance have turned this hope and dream into a reality.

This is a tremendous achievement for all of us who have worked to see it happen. The University of North Texas, the City of Dallas and civic leaders across our region should share in this celebration. I thank all of you for your help.

This is only one of 120 pieces of legislation I have filed this session. Not one of these bills were introduced without full consideration of their affect on the people who live in District 23. At this point in the session it is hard to project the number which will pass, but I want to share the prospect that I anticipate that this will be a successful legislative session.

For some time I have been working on legislation which would require the state to extend financial support to grandparents, or other family members, who accept guardianship of children. This support would be made available for the care of children which would otherwise be placed in foster homes. I filed the Kinship Bill (Senate Bill 1411) for this purpose.

As always, I enjoy hearing from my constituents and I encourage you to stay involved and connected. I certainly appreciate all your input. My staff and I are always prepared to respond to your inquiries and suggestions. On behalf of my wife Carol and our entire family, thank you for continuing to allow me to represent you in the Texas Senate.

Sincerely Yours

Royce West

Old School Friday: The Greatest of All Time

Posted on May 15, 2009 by Shawn Williams

Pretty tough category and a lot of ways to go with this one. I first thought about Prince, but then there’s not a lot of Prince footage on the web. Mary J is my girl and I could always throw up one of her joints. But I decided to go with the Notorious One.

His career was so short and it’s amazing to think of how he could be considered the Greatest of All Time by his body of work. But when you see this video and how he was flowing at 17 years old, it helps put it in perspective.

Happy Old School Friday!