Most people change their life by appearance or by careers or even through a spiritual conversion. All of this is good if there is a vision. A vision for your life creates direction, purpose and mission. Changing your life happens in four distinct areas: personal growth, family, health, and career. If you focus or change your life in these areas, you will see a great change. Once you change any of these areas, you will change your financial future. 

What is missing from the financial talk today is the characteristic of stewardship. We can eliminate our financial worries if we can take the Bibles key point of stewardship. Psalm 24:1 declares that, “The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Everything we have on this earth is the Lord's.

By Anne R., Reference Librarian


Researching family history is a popular pastime, and one that people feel passionate about. In response to many requests for help with this specialized research, the Downtown Lansing branch of the Capital Area District Library is offering several classes on the topic.

EAST LANSING, MI -- Catching terrorists who detonate bombs may be easier by testing the containers that hide the bombs rather than the actual explosives, according to pioneering research led by Michigan State University.
 

LANSING -- Today, the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus (MLBC), along with the Detroit Branch NAACP, UAW and Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development (LaSED) today announced a lawsuit filed against State of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson to halt the implementation of the Michigan Legislative Redistricting Plan.

COMMUNITY
CONVERSATION
FORUM
Saturday,
December 17, 2011, 1 -3 pm
Capital Area District Library

Home for the Holidays:  Recording artist Cate Storm (Cathy Nikundiwe), who is originally from Lansing was visiting from Atlanta, Georgia.  She said, “Violence has been an issue in the Lansing community for many years and everyone has been affected in one way or the other. I was happy to be able to show my support when I was in town.”
Photo by Brandyn Armstrong

By  Zaineb Mohammed
New America Media

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Carolyn Gage was evicted from her foreclosed home in January. Earlier this month, she moved back in.

By Karla Robinson, MD

Characterized by a lack of motivation, lack of energy, and lack of concentration, fatigue is a common complaint experienced by more than thirty percent of people in this country.  While the term is often mistakenly used interchangeably with drowsiness, fatigue really is a separate condition, and is sometimes the sign of something more serious.  

STOP THE VIOLENCE RALLY

November 26, 2011
12 Noon - 3 pm
Capital Steps
Lansing, MI

LEFT:  Ygnacio “Notch” Bermudez, Justin Christian and Big Perm at one of their events.

Photo by Brandyn Armstrong

LANSING, MI -- Ygnacio "Notch" Bermudez was a young 35 when he died on November 10, 2011.  He was born May 16, 1976 in Lansing, Michigan. His mother, Ruth Lopez, tearfully said that her son was her best friend.

By Chris Rabb

www.newamericamedia.org

I recently came across a pithy, anti-Occupy Wall Street column in Entrepreneur Magazine that encouraged protesters to go home and create start-up ventures instead of standing up for social and economic justice. The column was just under 400 words, but I can summarize it for you: Stop complaining and start a business. Though the conservative argument behind it was neither new nor particularly well-founded, it was aggressively inane and patently misguided all the same.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Project Foundation dedicated a monument in his honor on the National Mall on October 16, 2011. It took five years to make the memorial that honors Dr. King and his life and his legacy.

The vision of a memorial in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. is one that captures the essence of his message, a message in which he so eloquently affirms the commanding tenants of the American Dream — Freedom, Democracy and Opportunity for All.

As a national monument honoring Martin Luther King Jr. opens in Washington, D.C., a look back at his legacy and his star power

By Gregory Clay | McClatchy-Tribune News Service

During the turbulent decade of the 1960s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was about the gleam — in the eyes, that is. He was about the cadence in his speech intonations — a rapper of social consciousness before Kurtis Blow, before Public Enemy, before Queen Latifah, that is. He was about “The Dream” — the iconic speech at the Lincoln Memorial on that sweltering afternoon of Aug. 28, 1963, that is. He was about the rhythm of the civil rights movement — played to the spirit of Motown and the serenity of Burt Bacharach, that is.

By Kat Aaron and Lynne Perri
New America Media
Investigative Reporting Workshop

A higher percentage of women are unemployed than men, according to numbers released today by Gallup. More than 10 percent of the women surveyed were unemployed, compared to 8 percent of men. Almost 11 percent of women working part time wanted full time work, compared to 8 percent of men.

Left to Right:  Tonie Brovont, owner of OWLYN; Sophia Cole, breast cancer survivor and 2012 calendar model; Suzi Wyman and Barb McKessy, owners of Ultimate Image & Esthetique, which is a full service salon; and Dr. LaKeeya Tucker from Alliance Obstetrics-Gynecology (in the middle of Wyman and McKeesy) collaborated this year on “It’s a Breast Thing”.  Photo by The New Citizens Press

BATH, MI -- Almost 400 people walked through the doors to support "It's a Breast Thing" fundraiser.  The mission of this non-profit is to provide women in the Greater Lansing Area with resources regarding breast cancer.  The funds raised will stay in the community (Eaton, Ingham, Clinton and Shiawasee) for diagnosing and treating breast health issues. They also have support from a number of other physicians and businesses in the community.

 Home cooking for a new generation. Easy and elegant recipes from the heart and soul created for today's family.

New Music Video Features Breast Cancer Survivors

BPRW- - Atlantic Records Recording Artist Musiq Soulchild announced his new role as ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Circle of Promise, a movement designed to further engage black women around the globe in the fight against breast cancer. As an ambassador for the movement, Musiq will raise awareness about breast cancer so that younger women know the importance of early detection and why it’s important to pay attention to their bodies.

 

New York

NOW: Above, construction continues on Freedom Tower, center, and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at Ground Zero in New York in this May 2011 photo. Freedom Tower is expected to be completed by January 2014. Construction of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is expect to be finished by September 2012.

THEN: Below, a New York City firefighter looks at the ruins of the World Trade Center at dawn on Sept. 12, 2001, a day after the terrorist attacks.

CAROLYN COLE/LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT

JIM MACMILLAN/ PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS/MCT

By LEONARD PITTS JR.
McClatchyNewspapers

A decade after the terror, in New York, at the Pentagon, at a field in Pennsylvania and in every nook and cranny of America, we move forward

Suddenly, it has been 10 years.

That’s an amazing realization when you remember how it was back then. Calendars still counted off days; our eyes told us this. Clocks still ticked off seconds; intellectually, we knew. But time — I would have sworn this in a court of law — did not move.

 Approximately 1,300 homeowners in four parishes to receive $62 million in additional compensation

  For both men and women of any age, cardiovascular disease could be the first

killer. It kills more people than ALL forms of cancer tumors grouped

together.

By William O. Beeman

The United States is jubilant over the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. However, it will be some time before history catches up with the mythology that arose around him and the al-Qaeda organization in the past 10 years. Osama bin Laden at the end was far from the looming powerful figure he was made out to be. He had outlived his usefulness both as a bogeyman for the West, and as an Islamic responder to the neo-colonialist forces his organization purported to confront.

 I Love Michigan: Darryl and Erinn Evans along with their son, Dion and daughter, Morgan won the top prize for their video depicting love for Michigan .  Courtesy photo

By Reference Librarian Eunice B.

By Aisha Fukushima, 

 Home cooking for a new generation. Easy and elegant recipes from the heart and soul created for today's family.

 R& B singer, Trey Songz will be performing at Common Ground Festival in Lansing, Michigan from Monday, July 11, 2011 at Lansing's Adado Riverfront Park.  www.commongroundfest.com

By Quassan Castro

By Earl Ofari Hutchinson
New America Media

Mississippi’s Republican Gov. Haley Barbour was adamant. He told reporters, civil rights leaders and protesters not to hold their breath waiting for him to pardon Jamie and Gladys Scott, who served 16 years in prison for a 1993 armed robbery that they insist they did not commit.

On March 11, 2011, the strongest earthquake  hit Japan and one of the top five largest earthquakes in the world since seismological record-keeping began. A tsunami followed with waves of up to 33 ft. The disaster left thousands dead and inflicted extensive material damage to buildings and infrastructure that led to significant accidents at two major nuclear power stations.

Dr. Mona Reide in Ghana during one of her many visits to impoverished areas in the world.

ACCRA, GHANA -- Dr. Mona Reide is the senior pastor of Grace International Outreach Church, located in East Lansing, MI. The church and the pastor are members of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW). As church member Ishmael Odamtten often says “we are small but powerful.” 

  Dear Readers,

 By Frank S. Washington

By Tashmica Torok

By Anne R., Reference Librarian

It's hard to believe, but Women's History Month is only 24 years old. It wasn't until 1987 that Congress declared March as National Women's History Month in perpetuity. This act was the culmination of efforts by many to gain official recognition for the contributions of women to United States history.

Dear Tamara:

My fiancé has asked me to move in with him. We have been together for three years and engaged for almost a year now. We have not yet set a wedding date because we each have another year of school left and we both want to wait until we graduate college before getting married. In a way it makes perfect sense that we move in together.

 What could be more absurd than paying a surcharge for a wireless Internet connection at your hotel?

 Let them eat cake! Photo by Kristi Taylor

 David Brown (father) started Brady Lawn & Garden in 1975.  Today his son, Jon Brady (right), carries on the legacy of exceptional 

 By Tashmica Torok

The sweetest time of year is coming, when the sap begins to flow, and Fenner offers it’s Maple Syrup Festival!   The celebration of spring and syrup takes place at Fenner Nature Center, March 19 and 20, Saturday and Sunday, 11 – 4.  It a fun and educational family adventure!

These so-called “bath salts” are being sold across the country as a
crystalline powder online, at head shops, convenience stores, and on the
street. These are not commercially manufactured bath salts that people
purchase to use in the bath tub. These products are sold with names such
as “Ivory Wave”, “Aura”, “ZOOM 2”, “Zeus 2”, “Cosmic Blast”, and “White Rush.” They may be snorted, ingested mixed with water, injected, or inserted rectally or vaginally.

(Andres Cediel/FRONTLINE)

In detective novels and television crime dramas like "CSI," the nation's morgues are staffed by highly trained medical professionals equipped with the most sophisticated tools of 21st-century science. Operating at the nexus of medicine and criminal justice, these death detectives thoroughly investigate each and every suspicious fatality.

Professor Henry Louis "Skip" Gates, Jr. (pictured) in Salvador Carnival in BLACK IN LATIN AMERICA.  Courtesy of Jemila Twinch

LANSING, MI --  The New Citizens Press (TNCP)  newspaper is celebrating its 10 year  anniversary at the Creole Gallery located at 1218 Turner Street on Saturday, February 19.  There will be live entertainment and an awards ceremony. Doors open at 6:00 pm for networking and dinner. The entertainment will begin at 7:00 pm.

Above left: Addie Jackson (left) had cancer and her sister, Ardene Jackson, despite her own personal struggles fought along side her every step of the way.

Above right:  Phyllis Palmer is a recovering drug addict who is now clean and going to college.  She would like to get a degree that would allow her to help others in a time of need.

Courtesy photo

By Tashmica Torok

LANSING, MI -- On February 19, 2011, two courageous women will be honored at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of The New Citizens Press as recipients of the “Staying the Course” Award.  “Stay the course” is a phrase used in the context of a war or battle meaning to pursue a goal regardless of any obstacles or criticism.  Addie Jackson is a breast cancer survivor while Phyllis Palmer is recovering from drug addiction one day at a time.  The battle these women faced were different but these veterans shared similar journeys.

11th Street Station Restaurant

EAST, LANSING, MI -- When Vishwajeet K. Singh took ‘the walk’ in the sunny summer of 2010 at Michigan State University (MSU), he had a strong urge to give something back to the community at-large, particularly to the MSU community and its wonderful University town of East Lansing that has given him so much – friends, family and life-long education to boast about. Employed now as a faculty at the University of Oregon where he teaches Hindi/Urdu for World Languages Academy, exactly within a year he is close to fulfilling his urge and now come back to the town to launch his new venture, “Global Mentors LLC”.

The elementary classroom kids standing with caregivers Ogline Pierre (left) and Michelle Dolce (right).  The man in the background is a security guard. Crime has spiked since the devastation.  The wall in the background is what remains of a wall after the earthquake. Courtesy photo

After the earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010, many orphans and school children were brought to Maxeau Balthazar's yard in Port-au-Prince . Mr. Balthazar's home was an obvious safe place to go because he had previously created a humanitarian services organization in Haiti. 
 

The Social Network” was a box office hit!

By Jay Bobbin
Tribune Media Services

STARTING THIS WEEK: "THE SOCIAL NETWORK": One of the best-reviewed movies of 2010, director David Fincher and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin's superb drama recalls the roots of Facebook through the personal experiences that prompted then-college student Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg, in an excellent, complex performance) to develop what morphed into the wildly popular website. Its growing pains were considerable, though. Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Rooney Mara, Josh Pence, Joseph Mazzello and Brenda Song also are in the sterling cast. DVD extras: audio commentary by Fincher and Sorkin. **** (PG-13: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray)
 

Just because someone looks official doesn't mean they are. In Italy, "Tourist Police" may stop you on the street, flash their bogus badges, and ask to check your wallet for counterfeit bills or "drug money." Courtesy photo

By Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

Gelato in hand, you're strolling down a street in Italy, when suddenly, an attractive woman starts arguing with a street vendor. A crowd gathers as he accuses her of shoplifting.
 

Rihanna

By CaribWorldNews

NEW YORK, NY -- Say Caribbean entertainers and 2010 has got to be the year sexy Grammy-winning Bajan singer Rihanna took her career to a whole new level.
 

Mighty Medicine is continuing to build a reputation for making great music that is healing and uplifting. Photo by David Smith

LANSING, MI -- Mighty Medicine, soul rock duo, is helping to organize a benefit concert Saturday, January 8th from 4pm-10pm at Everybody Reads Bookstore located at  2019 East Michigan Avenue in Lansing, MI. The proceeds from this concert will support the Bucoseh Orphanage and school in Haiti. Mighty Medicine is guitarist and folk instrumentalist, Larry Neuhardt and vocalist and percussionist, DeShaun Sparkle Snead.
 

By Billy Graham
Tribune Media Services

Q: How can I empty my mind of all the useless thoughts I have so I can hear God speaking to me? I want to be close to God and feel His presence, but I have a hard time getting rid of all the distractions in my mind. - J.W.H.
 

By Ashia Sims

After a spring and summer of bright colors, one has managed to break through and hold on into the colder months. Electric blue was a hot color on the runways for fall/winter and I think it’s a wonderful and easy trend to get involved with.

By the Capital Area District Library Reference Department


The Reference Staff at the Downtown Lansing Library includes librarians with a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. They are some of the most valuable best resources the library offers! For example, Marisela G. heads up our language resources. She is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish, so she often assists patrons who would otherwise have a difficult time communicating with staff. 

The lobby of the The World of Coca Cola located in Atlanta,Georgia provides an artistic taste to the famous brand. Photo by Keyarrow Murphy

By Sunne Khurana

My getaway will possibly include ancient sites and traditional tourist attractions. Nevertheless, I mostly prefer finding off the beaten path that makes fun and unique trip. Do you know anything about those shopping, dining, and entertainment? More than hundred different places will keep you very busy for hours when you visit this attraction.

 

By Robert Pagliarini,
Tribune Media Services

How would you like to earn a 100,000 percent investment return without investing in the stock market? The greatest financial asset you have is not your house, your 401(k) or even your job.

Above: In St. Maarten/St. Martin there are sweeping sea views almost everywhere you visit.  This island is a scenic respite from the rigors of life. There is plenty to do for the entire family.  Couples can also unwind on a romantic getaway. 

 Cat lovers unite for a unique show cat competition in the Capitol City. Courtesy photo

        
EAST LANSING, MI – Children and youth ages 7-18 years old are invited to audition for MSU Children and Youth Choirs at the MSU Community Music School.

The Lansing Area AIDS Network (LAAN) along with the greater Lansing community is hosting a program recognizing World AIDS Day on Tuesday, December 1st at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing.  Every 9Ω minutes, someone in the United States is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
 

 By Eric Heiden M.D.

  By Quassan Castro

By Tom Lagana
from “Serving Productive Time”

Whenever I check into a hotel, I routinely ask, “Where's a good place to eat? What sights should I see while I'm here?” My next question, “Could you please give me directions to the local jail?” typically produces an interesting reaction or two.

Deep Roots

By Tashmica Torok

When I was a little girl my baby brother swallowed one of my emerald earrings. My father gave them to me for my sixth birthday as a matching set that also included a heart-shaped locket with a single emerald adorning the little door.  I asked him not to put the earring in his mouth, he didn't listen and then it was gone

By Reference Librarian Anne Rau

Being a Reference Librarian is a job that keeps you on your toes. You never know what someone will ask; questions fly at you on every subject. Although it's challenging work, it's also very interesting. I decided to keep a log about the requests I received on just one single day at the Reference Desk.

By Ashia Sims

I know I’m always talking about stores like Target, Walmart and Dots when it comes to finding great clothes at reasonable prices. Well there is another way you can update your wardrobe without spending much or any money at all; closet shopping.

By Robert Pagliarini,
Tribune Media Services

There are few things in life as exhilarating as starting a business in your free time. Your day job may provide you with some satisfaction and energy, but it's nothing like the shot in the arm you can get when you focus your strengths and skills on starting a business that gives you passion and purpose.

Lansing, MI—In observance of Thanksgiving Day, the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) will conclude all MSU campus bus service at 11:30PM on Wednesday, November 24, 2010.  All other CATA routes and services will conclude at their regular time on Wednesday.
 

In December, MSU-AAAS's speaker series “Re-negotiating Meaning in Black Studies Today” will present an event that advances knowledge about an African American holiday, Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community, culture and consciousness.

EAST LANSING, Mich. --- Transforming vacant urban lots into farms and community gardens could provide Detroit residents with a majority of their fruits and vegetables.

As city officials ponder proposals for urban farms, a Michigan State University study indicates that a combination of urban farms, community gardens, storage facilities and hoop houses -- greenhouses used to extend the growing season – could supply local residents with more than 75 percent of their vegetables and more than 40 percent of their fruits.

During a national week of action concerning wage theft, the Lansing Workers' Center, continues to empower workers to stand up for their rights. Since opening its doors last Labor Day, the Lansing Workers' Center and has been talking to workers about wage theft, unemployment claims, and everything in between.

Hello all future cast members!

Potter Park Zoo Red Panda

Voters in Ingham County showed their support for the Potter Park Zoo by voting for the Zoo’s millage renewal.

 LANSING, MI -- Victoria Rowell is a New York Times Bestselling author, Award-winning actress and lecturer.  Rowell will be at Schuler Books & Music, 2820 Towne Centre Blvd., on Monday, November 1.

Dirty Fingers

Sunday, November 7, 2010
2 p.m. at the Michigan Historical Museum, Lansing

Apollo Theater Exterior, 2008 

By Ijeoma Daberechi Odoh 

The current situation in Nigeria could be likened to an inferno drawing both the old and the young; the rich and the poor; and the local and the international communities to itself. Hardly a day passes in Nigeria without kidnapping incidents making the headlines. Kidnapping is now a lucrative venture with some jobless youths manning the business. No one is safe anymore.

The cupcake business is riding high at Hey Cupcake! 

1600 South Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704

Price Range: From $2.75 each 

Great customer service

 Fall is an ideal time to clean up your garden, improve your soil and take other steps to prepare for next spring's 

married in Vietnam years after meeting in college. Courtesy photo.

By Jane Le Skaife

LANSING, MI -- It was a calling for Lt. Col Theodore Whitely when he became a chaplain in the military  21 years ago.

By Carol Grund
CADL

For many years, science fairs have been part of the school curriculum, especially in elementary schools. They offer a chance for students to learn about a particular topic in science or engineering that they are excited about, and to share it with other students and family members.

LANSING, MI -- Getting into the entertainment industry is more than just making beats and knowing how to play an instrument or sing. 

By Mark Miller
Tribune Media Services

How much will you need to live on in retirement? You'll often hear the big financial services companies offer this rule of thumb: Plan to replace 80 percent of your working income in retirement.

By Mark Miller
Tribune Media Services

If you've spent hours analyzing the investment strategies of the mutual funds in your retirement portfolio, here's some bad news: You could have saved a lot of time just focusing on the fees.

Shakara Tyler is a Penn State University senior majoring in Agricultural Sciences with two minors in Agricultural Communications and Law and Liberal Arts. During the summer of 2010 she was a research scholar at Michigan State University in the Summer Research Opportunities Program.

She writes about the plight of minorities in agriculture.

Top Left:  Amaia Edmond 7-years-old, Wexford Montessori
student died onJuly 23, shows her dazzling personality on Easter Sunday, which was on April 4th in 2010.  Courtesy photo.

LANSING, MI -- Jackie Summerville lovingly picked up her grandchild, Kyla Lauderdale and grazed her lips across her chubby cheek. Jackie lamented that she had been through enough this past year and was grateful for the opportunity to cherish one kiss from the 1-year-old.

 Lieutenant Colonel Shawn A. Harris, of Kentwood, Michigan, is among the chosen few to pursue this dream of elite Soldiers. In August 2010, Harris will report to the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

 QUESTION

 The “Phantom of the Opera” production has been loved by millions for over the years. The traveling production of “Phantom” put on by The Music Box company has given people all over the world a chance to experience the magic it brings. Beyond being so mesmerizing and captivating, there is so much unseen work and dedication that goes on behind the curtain. Over twenty semi trucks carry the show from city to city. Within the trucks there are over sixty gondola closets of just costumes alone!

 Colleen Farmer's flight to Mexico is rescheduled multiple times before she leaves on her vacation, but when she finally shows up at the airport, her airline demands an additional $948 for two one-way tickets. Now her online travel agency is balking at a refund for the second ticket. What can she do?

 Michigan is in a defining moment in history.  More of our people are out of work than in a lifetime.  Those of us lucky enough to still have a job are working far more for less.  Our roads and our infrastructure are crumbling before our very eyes, and even our children’s education is in jeopardy.If we do not take action now, we could be the first generation in Michigan to leave it in worse condition for our children.

 Over 15,000 people from grassroots community organizations will converge at the U.S. Social Forum (USSF), Detroit June 22 – 26, 2010 under the vision, “Another World Is Possible.

 Teresa Tran, National Honor Society student at Eastern High School volunteered to help classmates register to vote.  Deedre Williams, member of A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI), a non-profit “Get-Out-The-Vote” voter education organization, facilitated the registration and Bruce Utter from the City of Lansing’s Clerks Office assisted with questions about the voting machines.

 Before you pack away the winter clothes make sure they are clean and in good condition.

The midnight Grand Buffet and all of those talented chefs who prepared it! The Celebrity Cruises Motor Vessel Century viewed from the dock. 70,606 tonnage, 815 feet long, 105 foot beam width, 22 knot top speed, 14 decks, 1750 guests and 868 crew.

By Bob Robinson

The new health care bill is slated to help with the high cost of prescriptions. 

State Representative Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem) today announced that her campaign is the only in the Democratic primary that is gaining momentum. Smith’s claim comes after the latest results of a Rasmussen opinion poll were released.

 Twenty-five years ago, Darryl Burton was convicted of capital murder and armed criminal action in a St. Louis, Missouri, trial court. His conviction has all the characteristics of a wrongful conviction: "eye witness" informants, ineffective trial counsel, and an array of procedural obstacles which all combined to leave Mr. Burton trapped in a Missouri prison for 24 years. Burton is shown here with Vera Thomas, Reggie’s mother at the 3rd Anniversary of the Justice for Reggie Campaign in December of 2008. Courtesy photo

Roundtable Discussion on Small Businesses at Lansing Community College:  (Scott Guernsey, HR Component; Brent Knight, President of Lansing Community College; Linda Hundt,  Sweetie-licious Bakery Cafe; Dave Adams, Michigan Credit Union League CEO; George Wood, Home Energy Audits;  Governor Jennifer M. Granholm; Andy Otteman, Parnunu, LLC; Rina Risper, President & Publisher of The New Citizens Press; Nancy Boese, Michigan Small Business Technology Development Center Region 7 regional director and Greg Main, President and Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO. Photo by Adam DeLong

During the entire year prior to this edition, we are looking  for people who are doing great things in our community.  They may or may not be on your radar but to The New Citizens Press they provide value to our community.  We also realize that there are others who you think belong in “The Most Influential and Interesting” column.  We are willing to consider anyone regardless of race, affiliations, education or socioeconomic background.

 The First Lady joined the dress’ 27-year old designer Jason Wu for the ceremony , which welcomes the one-of-a-kind one shoulder ivory gown in "The First Ladies at the Smithsonian" exhibit.

Above: Jason Wu and First Lady Michelle Obama

Journalists and citizens who file Freedom of Information Act requests often expect delay or denial, unfortunately, that can impact  your daily life. Oftentimes, the lack of information provided by governmental agencies limit the ability to investigate issues, protect individuals or open the doors of justice. istockphoto

Did you know that you can ask for the documents below under FOIA (Freedom of Information Act)?

 In recent years, modeling shows and modeling contest that attract hopefuls from all over the nation are the “reality television show rage”.  One of the most popular shows is Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model.  Tyra.com is holding an exclusive America’s Next Top Model search just for those young hopefuls.  Photo of Tyra Banks

“It's not the towering sail, but the unseen wind that moves the ship”     - a Proverb

An earthquake survivor removes debris from a devastated road in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on February 2, 2010. The Jan. 12, 2010, 7.0-magnitude earthquake left thousands of Haitians displaced and without access to food, water and vital medical care. Photo by MC2 Todd Frantom

Mother and daughter spending a day at the beach. 

 The powerful Dodge Ram HD gives you options.

Angela Martin (above), an “American Idol” auditioner in Chicago who wowed all four judges with her rendition of Mary J. Blige’s “Just Fine” , continues to search for her missing mother, who was last seen leaving a family dinner on Christmas day.

Feeling overwhelmed with junk mail? Sorting through it is easier than you think.

Corrections and law enforcement officials will now have the capability to search tattoo image databases to help identify suspects, criminals and victims

A group of Haitian American leaders, state and local officials met to map out a humanitarian relief efforts as the extent of the damage from a category 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti.

 Not All Charities are Equipped to Help and Some Might be Fraudulent, Warns BBB

The Mutallabs: contrasting terror-bound son Farouk Abdul Mutallab and business mogul father Alhaji Umaru Mutallab (above). On December 25, 2009 Farouk attempted to blow up a plane that was travelling from Amsterdam to Detroit, MI

Photo www.usafricaonline.com

'Madea's Big Happy Family' marks character's first stage outing in  five years 

Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time in a village full of ninjas there lived an orphan named Naruto. When he was born, the chief of the village sealed a powerful and malevolent spirit of a nine-tailed fox inside thee child’s belly.

Serena Williams was fined a record $82,500 for her U.S. Open outburst against a lineswoman and could be suspended from the annual New York event if she has another "major offense" at any Grand Slam in the next two years.    

Tips to help you keep your money safe during the holiday season.

NBA player describes 'nerve-racking' wait for biopsy results

The first nasty inkling that even the King of Pop can stir racial divides came with the Mt. Everest-sized list of postings on blogs, chat rooms, and Web sites the week after Michael Jackson’s death. Many writers dredged up all of the old drug, child molestation and other dirt digs on Jackson.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Fredrick Santucci, attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, and an Iraqi army officer plan a patrol route through the city of Abu Ghraib, Nassir Wa Salam province, Iraq, on May 17, 2009.   DoD photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Whelan, U.S. Navy

BBB Warns Against Swine Flu Scams: Scammers are creating their own epidemic of spam e-mails
 

Former Secretary of State to appear on ABC show to thank a disabled Gulf War vet

The father of pop star Rihanna is blaming the Los Angeles Police Department for the leak of a photo showing his daughter's battered and bruised face following a domestic dispute with Chris Brown.     

Another Defining Black History Moment – Pittsburgh Steelers’ NFL Super Bowl Championship - African American Head Coach, Youngest Ever, and MVP Takes Top Honors -

 Lawrence Taylor also among cast of new hoofers for ABC's competition series

House vs. Senate

The Regional Inaugural Balls are an inaugural tradition that President-elect Obama  continued, inviting guests from the Midwest, the West, the East, the South, and the Mid-Atlantic regions to their own celebrations.   It is one of the 10 balls that the president and Michelle attended. Photo by Barbara Roberts Mason

In the days after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans fractured along racial fault lines as its government collapsed. Read about it in our next edition. White vigilante gunmen nearly killed Donnell Herrington.
Photo by Chandra McCormick & Keith Calhoun

The way Donnell Herrington tells it, there was no warning. One second he was trudging through the heat. The next he was lying prostrate on the pavement, his life spilling out of a hole in his throat, his body racked with pain, his vision blurred and distorted.

(BPRW) In January, Washington, D.C. will experience heavy tourism due to the inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama. If your only knowledge of the D.C. area comes from watching political news coverage, there’s more to learn. An inauguration is not the only reason to visit this city, and the D.C. area has much to offer travelers of all ages and interests beyond politics.

Bullying has affected many students negatively.  Unfortunately, some adults don’t take it seriously. The student in the story inside decided to fight the system.

Boxing promoter Don King is raving over President George W. Bush's cat-like reflexes as he dodged two shoes hurled at his face by an Iraqi journalist during a press conference Sunday in Baghdad.

While 50 Cent may not literally see his net worth dwindle down to the amount of his rap moniker, the mogul is worried about his financial assets as stock markets and real estate values continue to plummet.      

World AIDS Day is on December 1st.  It's an important day of commemoration throughout the world to remember those who have died, to pray for those still suffering, and to come together in solidarity to fight the greatest humanitarian crisis in the world today.

Still reeling from the murders of her mother, brother and nephew, Jennifer Hudson says she wants to use the tragedy to speak out against crime and gun violence in the urban community.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Bill Zwecker reported Tuesday of Hudson's plans to "use the newly formed foundation she established with her sister Julia to try to reduce the daily killings in inner-city communities across the nation."     

 Panelists say decision  influenced heavily by secret audio tapes

Seven jurors from the O.J. Simpson trial say their guilty verdict was influenced more by secret audio tapes and surveillance video than eyewitness accounts, reports the Associated Press.

The childhood photos of former Boys & Girls Clubs of America" members Denzel Washington, Shaquille O'Neal, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and others are featured in a new ad campaign for the organization, titled "BE GREAT."

LANSING, MI -- At the end of September one lucky family will be surprised when ABC's “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” crew knocks on their door.   One of five families that live close to or in Lansing were nominated for the TV show.  This will be the third home built in the state.

Some young men and women currently going as soldiers into the Bush Iraqi war were born during the first Iraqi war and now old enough to vote.  Iraq had marched its army into Kuwait stealing a huge oil field.  George Bush, Sr., an experienced diplomat, rallied support though the United Nations for a swift and decisive counter-attack driving the Iraqi army back into Iraq.

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama
New Energy for America
Michigan State University
Monday, August 4th, 2008
Lansing, Michigan
 

 Presidential hopeful turns down request to sponsor car in Sprint Cup series

                    _{Obama seen with Governer Granholm}

MICHIGAN -- Michigan has had more than its share of economic hardships in recent years, but when Michigan voters were asked the biggest economic problem facing their family, the cost of fuel trumped everything. Gas prices have risen to $4.15 across the nation. 

Before you sign on the dotted line, check it out before you check in:
 
Would-be travelers are spending  thousands of dollars to take advantage of travel deals that didn’t exist.

One company was also ordered to pay $70,000 in restitution to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.

When Walter Swift was freed after being wrongly imprisoned for 26 years he told the crowd that he feels like a bird has been let out of a cage.  He is shown with lawyers from the Innocence Project, a group that works to free those who are wrongly imprisoned.  Courtesy Photo

The Case of Claude Mc Collum: Attorney Hugh B. Clarke,Jr.; Cheryl Bartz, who is on the Committee for Social Justice at Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing and Claude McCollum who was recently released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit.  TNCP Photo.

Presumptive Republican nominee talks about views on Obama and plans for black America

Elizabeth handing Pat a coupon from Kroger for dry cleaning services at Sunshine Laundromat & Dry Cleaners.
Photo TNCP.

     We have to give Hilary Rodham Clinton her props. In spite of the odds, she's found a way to hang in there.

This April the theme is "Put a Poem inYour Pocket." 

Black History Month Events at Lansing Community College,  New Era Canning Company Expands Nationwide Recall Risk of botulism from additional canned vegetable products

As Hillary and Bill Clinton continue to catch heat for remarks criticized as reducing her Democratic presidential rival Barack Obama to "the black candidate," the former president was a guest on the ABC Radio-syndicated Doug Banks and DeDe McGuire Show and spoke about the issue of race becoming a factor in the two campaigns.

The Mercedes-Benz C Class was chosen as “Car of the Year” by an independent panel of automotive journalists for th “Urban Wheel Awards” that will be held in Detroit,MI On January 15, 2008.  Other winners in  the “Car of the Year” category are the Chevrolet Malibu and the Honda Accord.  Co-hosts will be Actress Rosie Perez, and Kevin Frazier, of Entertainment Tonight. 

STATES REPORTED MORE THAN 2,000 ARREST-RELATED DEATHS FROM 2003 THROUGH 2005

TMZ.com is reporting that a former producer on the court show "Judge Judy" says he was fired after complaining about a supervisor's order to halt the booking of black litigants.     

A real estate developer who had purchased Michael Vick's former dog fighting headquarters in Virginia with plans to flip it for a quick profit experienced a rude awakening on December 15 when the property failed to sell at auction.

Legendary daredevil Evel Knievel died on November 30, 2007  just days after announcing his meeting with Kanye West that led to a settlement over the rapper's video for "Touch the Sky."

A  state lawmaker in a runoff election in Louisiana called a black civil-rights veteran who had helped her campaign "Buckwheat," angering the NAACP, which urged voters to kick her out of office, reports the Associated Press.    

Rapper leaves European tour to attend services; Jay-Z, Beyonce, Anita Baker, John Legend among mourners.

Stanley O’Neal, forced out of the top job at Merrill Lynch, is the highest ranking casualty of the sub-prime loan fiasco -- even as diversity in corporate America is still an issue.

The presidential election of 2008 will be historic in several ways. For the first time ever, a woman and an African American both have a viable shot at being the Democratic nominee.

Team owner said it’s not in the team’s ‘best long-term interest.’

Black on black murder rates are off the charts, capped by the recent killing of three students in New Jersey, but there are few witnesses willing to testify. The lack of witnesses helps increase the spiral of violence in poor black neighborhoods, notes NAM editor Earl Ofari Hutchinson. Hutchinson is an author and political analyst.

“I kept seeing reports about the humanitarian crisis in Darfur that were so cruel it made my body cringe. ”
- Tashmica Torok, Founder of The Whisper Campaign-

    The Vietnam War (known in Vietnam itself as "The America War") was a military conflict in present day Vietnam occurring from 1959 to April 30, 1975.

U.S. immigration authorities deported her parents to Mexico. Now Leslie Muñoz takes care of her younger siblings while she balances bill paying, tax season, and mortgages with her honors classes.

Want to get into the excitement of the Kentucky Derby without going to Louisville?

 Michigan Army National Guard Maj. Shawn Harris and Sgt. Maj. David Marshall observe firing on an M-203 grenade launcher range at Camp Grayling, MI as part of training for a deployment to Afghanistan to serve with an  Embedded Training Team to train the Afghan National Army on September 20, 2006.  The ETT has the mission to train the Afghan Nation Army in U.S. doctrine and tactics to enable the ANA to take over military operations in Afghanistan from U.S. and NATO forces.  Photo by  Sgt. 1st Class Wilson Tang

LANSING, MI --  The Lansing Police Department is warning the public of a new twist to an old scam.  It appears con artists are using legitimate business opportunities to try and scam people looking to make extra money during the holidays working part time.

(BPRW)  -- The 2006 elections are barely over and the race for the 2008 presidency has begun in earnest.

Playskool Voluntarily Recalls Toy Tool Benches after the Death of Two Toddlers

We Remember:  Emily Perez - First Female West Point Cadet to Die in Iraq

China is rushing to get ready for the 2008 Summer Olympics. But for millions of Chinese in the interior of the country, far away from Beijing and the other cities on the east coast, the Olympics will have little relevance to their lives. Changsha in Hunan province is the birthplace of Mao’s revolution but as NAM contributor Rian Dundon finds out, the Olympics seem very distant from Changsha.

CHANGSHA, Hunan – Mao launched his revolution from Changsha, but from this provincial capital of 2 million the Olympics seem very distant. Beijing and other cities are frenziedly transforming themselves into showcase cities for the 2008 Olympics, but in China's interior, where 60 percent of the population lives, the Olympics are just something you watch on television.

Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Olympics is on Friday, August 8, 2008

The Closing Ceremony is on Sunday, August 24, 2008
  

In order to be a successful small or micro business owner, you have to make sure that you have the right tools in order to succeed.

Charles Barkley is not playing around when he says he wants to be the future governor of Alabama. The former NBA player is currently making moves to ensure that he will indeed take over the position as soon as he becomes eligible.

Rapper creates limited edition Air Max sneakers to raise funds for disadvantaged youth.

‘Death of a President’ is supposed to make a point about ‘rushing to judgment.’  Imagine this: President George W. Bush gets assassinated and a black man is eventually discovered to be the murderer.

Reform legislation could help bring even more choices.  It’s no longer the digital home – it’s the digital lifestyle.

LANSING, MI --   The Mexican Consul, Vincente Sanchez-Ventura, will bring his Mobile Consulate Office to Cristo Rey Community Center located at 1717 North High Street on September 9, 2006 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Any Mexican citizen needing to renew a passport, or an ID card (Matriculas Consulares) may apply for one on this date at Cristo Rey Comminty Center.

On Thursday, July 27, 2006 at a White House ceremony attended by NAACP leadership, members of the Board of Directors, staff and Civil Rights coalition partners, President Bush signed H.R. 9, the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 into law.

Summer Thompson from Georgia visits the Junkanoo Museum in the Bahamas. Her father Rodney Thompson has Bahamian roots.TNCP Photo.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS -- Almost every visitor to the Bahamas is exposed to junkanoo.

Rock star Tommy Lee posted a message on his official Web site explaining his scuffle with Kid Rock during MTVs Video Music Awards, and apologizing to Alicia Keys for the incident taking place during her performance.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau  and  quite contrary to what is usually reported, 79% of Mexicans speak Spanish at home. Of this group, about half speak English “very well.” Thirty-seven percent of Mexican-origin residents are under 18, the highest percentage of that age group among Latino groups.    Source: U.S. Census Bureau.  Image U.S. Census Bureau Annual Demographic Supplement to the March 2002 Current Population Survey

  The nomination and confirmation of Alberto Gonzales as President Bush's replacement for outgoing Attorney General John Ashcroft proved a lightning rod for criticism of many Bush Administration policies.

   The final nail in Biggie’s coffin was hammered down last week as the FBI has decided to close its investigation into the rapper’s 1997 murder. Federal prosecutors reviewed the evidence and concluded there was no basis for prosecution, Louis J. Caprino Jr., acting head of the criminal division of the FBI's Los Angeles office, said in Friday's editions of the “Los Angeles Times.”

LANSING, MI -- Some may have been shocked by the devastation of the tsunami in Thailand but were dumfounded when reports of human traffickers preying on the children l

   There are so many Americans who don’t have access to a bank account,” begins Russell Simmons, whose desire to help folks claw their way out of debt and despair has led the Def Jam co-founder to launch UniRush Financial Services – a company that offers a world of banking opportunities, only without the bank.

WASHINGTON — House Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts, Jr. (R-Okla.) made the following statement on July 1, 2002 at a news conference in Norman, Oklahoma:

Read inside for more information

WASHINGTON — House Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts, Jr. (R-Okla.) made the following statement on July 1, 2002 at a news conference in Norman, Oklahoma:

Read inside for more information

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- A new chapter in the history of one of Hollywood's most fabled locations began today as developer Bond Capital, Ltd. and partners Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund, California State Teachers' Retirement System and HW Marketplace, LLC broke ground for Sunset & Vine,

Jackson to end 20-year relationship with Sony label.

 Controversial and graphic exhibit at King historic site

Emmy and Grammy award winning funnyman Chris Rock is back on the big screen  in the Jerry Bruckheimer action flick, “Bad Company,” which also stars Anthony Hopkins, Kerry Washington and Garcelle Beauvais-Nylon.

Sec. of Treasury believes more money will not solve problems

Guilty Verdict In Birmingham Church Bombing Murders 1963 Explosion by KKK Took Life of Four Little Girls

Washington, D.C. -- The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, (CBCF), announces that its 2002 Annual Legislative Conference, (ALC), will be held from Wednesday, September 11, 2002 to Saturday, September 14, 2002, at the Washington Convention Center, 900 9th Street, N.W., in Washington, D.C.

Hispanic Special Agents recently filed a class action discrimination suit against the U.S. Customs Service. The class complaint was filed May 10, 2002 and alleges that the Customs Service has discriminated against Hispanic Special Agents since the 1970s in promotions, transfers and assignments, awards and bonuses, training, and discipline.

Former boxer and actor lobby Congress.

FOR THE DEATH OF SINGER AND ACTRESS,  AALIYAH.

 TO THE SCANDAL IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Wide Variety of Career Opportunities

The King beatdown, fires and Operation Hope

'The Campaign for Nursing's Future," an Effort With Nursing Organizations, includes Prime-time Advertising, Scholarships and Recruitment Tools

Lopes was vacationing in the Central American country of Honduras where she often visited, said TLC manager Bill Diggings, when she died. He told CNN that he received a phone  from authorities in Honduras, telling him of the accident. There were seven other people were in the vehicle at the time of the accident and no one else was injured. Lopes was killed instantly.