News Spotlight: Extended Benefit Program Ends in Michigan Up to 20 weeks of federally-funded benefits no longer available
February 3, 2012 - The Extended Benefit (EB) program will end as Michigan’s jobless numbers are below the level required by federal law to continue the EB program. Michigan fell below the required level on January 28, 2012.
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Saturday, February 04, 2012
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Memo in the community
From: Gregory P. Kelley
RE: J. W. Sexton vs. Eastern
Note: The community needs a win – win
Disclosure: I’m an Everett High School graduate and a Lansing resident.
Ok, now what’s the rush?
Lansing School District parents and community residents need to calm down, slow down the decision train and expand their thinking with regard to closing a high school.
The decision at hand, which high school to close J. W. Sexton or Eastern, has been brewing for many years. Everyone should take a deep breath and take another look at the problem facing the Lansing School District due to the declining student population. The district must not be held hostage by the Eastern International Baccalaureate Magnet Program. That’s a good program, but it must not be even a primary determining factor in the decision. The tail, no matter how attractive, should not wag the dog.
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Thursday, February 02, 2012
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Foster Care, Uncertain Futures Loom For Thousands of Immigrant Children
 By Marjorie Valbrun America’s Wire
WASHINGTON—More than 5,000 children of immigrants are languishing in state foster care nationwidebecause their parents were living in the United States illegally and were detained or deported by federal immigration authorities.
These children can spend years infoster homes, and some are put up for adoption aftertermination of their parents’ custody rights.With neither state nor federal officials addressing the problem, thousands more are poised to enter the child welfare system every year.
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Thursday, February 02, 2012
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EDUCATORS ALARMED: MINORITY TEENAGERS PERFORMING AT ACADEMIC LEVELS OF 30 YEARS AGO
By Teresa Wiltz
America's Wire
Amy Wilkins, vice president for government affairs and communications at the Education Trust Washington, DC (BlackNews.com) -- Educators are expressing alarm that the performance gap between minority and white high school students continues to expand across the United States, with minority teenagers performing at academic levels equal to or lower than those of 30 years ago.
Despite the hope that improving education for children of color would propel them to better life outcomes, Latino and African-American students are not being prepared in high school classrooms for brighter futures. While achievement levels have improved considerably for minority elementary and middle school students, educators say their academic performance drops during high school years.
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Thursday, February 02, 2012
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Winning with Finances - Second principle of a financial takeover - Budgeting
 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.
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Thursday, February 02, 2012
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Making a Difference on MLK Jr.’s Day
 Giving Back - Eaton Rapids youths spent the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday volunteering. Photo by Harold Pope
LANSING, MI -- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream about evoking change through service to our fellow man and positive determination. These are the basic principles that Lunch with a Purpose and New World Flood were founded upon.
Lunch with a Purpose volunteers each week for a different community organization. Whether it's cooking food or folding bed sheets, a lot of people with a little time make a huge difference. Each week Lunch with a Purpose continues to grow by asking individuals and companies to share their time and talents bettering the community.
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Joyful Noise
 Studio: Warner Bros. (117 mins) Plot: Two strong minded women clash over their choir group's direction as they head into a national competition.
Cast: Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer, Jesse L. Martin, Dexter Darden, Courtney B. Vance
Rating: PG-13
Bottom Line: ***1/2
By Samantha Ofole-Prince
An exhilarating musical with rousing gospel numbers, “Joyful Noise” is a likable drama with a touch of humor that’s fairly engaging even when no one is singing.
The story circles around two strong-minded women played by Dana Owens (aka Queen Latifah) and Dolly Parton, who are forced to cooperate when a budget cut threatens to shut down their small-town choir. Despite being at odds, both Vi Rose (Latifah) and G.G. (Parton) have one thing in common: they love the choir.
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Mother Flippin’: One Funny Mother - To the Students of Penn State
 By Tashmica Torok
Dear Students of Penn State,
More specifically, those of you who are steadfast in your support of those involved in covering up the sexual abuse and victimization of Jerry Sandusky on several children.We do not know each other. My name is Tashmica and I am a victim of early sexual abuse.
My father was a youth pastor. He was known to his family as a good father. He was a dedicated soldier in the ARMY. He was funny and charming. People who knew him, liked him. They respected him. He was no Joe Paterno and staff but he was loved in our circle.
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Original Art at affordable prices, is there such a thing?
Left: Artist Edward Smith standing with his acrylic painting “Aurora”. It was
completed in 2000.
Below: An owl and girl sculpture created for a junk art competition, created by other Michigan artists.
 By Edward Smith
Back in October of last year, I was talking to a friend who had shown an interest in art. At one point during our discussion she mentioned her hesitation to enter galleries and shops because she felt she could not afford the prices for original art. I told her how I had
begun to write on this same subject some time ago, my belief is that original art should be made and made affordable.
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Jacob Merritt Howard: American Abolitionist
 By Local History Librarian David Votta
Michigan Attorney General Jacob Merritt Howard, who served our state from 1855-1861, is arguably one of the most influential people in the history of our nation's constitution, apart from the Founding Fathers.
Born in Vermont, Howard moved to Michigan in 1832 and settled in Detroit. There he was admitted to the bar, becoming City Attorney in 1834. It is said that he “took up arms” in defense of his adopted home state during the nearly bloodless Toledo War with Ohio.
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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ONLINE SHOPPING: A GOOD SELL?
The age of online purchasing has revolutionized shopping. No longer are consumers resigned to the drudgery of commuting to the store, fighting off other shoppers to get that last product and waiting in long lines to get their purchases rung up. With the click of a mouse, you can do all your shopping from the privacy of your home at any hour. You can easily compare prices by opening new browser windows and pulling up competitor sites. You can apply coupons and gift cards at most major online vendors. It is especially convenient for buying items out of your location, or when the local store has just run out your desired item.
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Do you have an opinion? 11-1
Dear Rina,
I learned of a court settlement for living victims of the horrific forced sterilizations legally conducted in some Southern states; sterilizations conducted on people of color, including pre-teens. Because people of color were stereotyped as being lazy, and in large part stigmatized because they were poor, sterilization was an answer to the prejudiced population's hatred for the poor. In turn, I submit, from my experience with being stereotyped as lazy or different because I have been extremely poor, I know firsthand that the appeal of the drug testing scenario for welfare recipients is a way to punish the poor and satisfy the inner demons of those who stereotype the poor.
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Excuse me, are you listening? 11-1
 Dear Readers,
I must be getting old. I must be getting wiser. Working with people in Lansing, I know I am getting smarter.
I am hoping that every single person that picks up the newspaper, will benefit from something that was read in it.
I love people. Amazingly so not everyone does. I did not say that I did not like the way some people are. I said I love people. I love them in all of their spaces. While I may choose not to be around them, talk to them or do business with them, I still love them for just who they are. I do not have a choice.
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Documentary on Slavery Spurs Racial Healing
 DeWolf family members and Ghanaian Beatrice Manu at a river ceremony in Ghana where captured Africans were brought for a last bath. Credit: Amishadai Sackitey
By Marjorie Valbrun
America’s Wire
WASHINGTON—Katrina Browne and her critically acclaimed documentary, “Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North,” are helping Americans talk more openly and honestly about race and race relations. The film is a well-researched account of her New England ancestors’ status as the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. It is also a moving story about racial healing and redemption, the very issues she wants to help Americans embrace.
In the film, Browne and nine other descendants of the DeWolf family retrace the so-called “Triangle Trade,” the path from Rhode Island to slave forts in Ghana to sugar plantation ruins in Cuba, as “they uncover the vast extent of Northern complicity in slavery” and the key role played by their forebears.
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Ask Tamara: Out of the Closet!
 Dear Tamara:
During a recent family gathering, my youngest brother announced that he is gay. The entire family was shocked, including me. I never suspected that my brother was gay. Growing up he had plenty of girlfriends and didn’t show any signs of being gay. I haven’t spoken to him since his big announcement and am really unsure about what to say or how to handle the situation.
On one hand I want to support my brother and let him know that I still love him, but on the other I am really worried about him. Our family grew up in the church and this is not the way we were raised. I don’t agree with my brother choosing to live a gay lifestyle, I think homosexuality is a sin and I don’t want him to suffer. What can I do about this?
My Brother’s Keeper
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Your Other 8 Hours: How to Cash in on Oprah Winfrey's New Network
 By Robert Pagliarini,
Tribune Media Services
At last count, Oprah Winfrey was worth a little over $23.234 trillion. Okay, that's a slight exaggeration, but there's no doubt she's done well for herself in doing well for others. Now it could be your turn. Oprah launched the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) at noon on January 1, 2011. It's a massive undertaking that could transform cable TV. And if you're willing, it could also transform you.
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Winter Weather Safety
 By Karla Robinson, MD
As we go into the new year, winter weather is around the corner. Therefore, it’s important to make sure you are aware of the top reasons for injury during the winter weather season. Here we will review some of the health risks associated with the snow and ice and provide some tips on practicing winter weather safety.
Falls: Emergency room visits for broken bones, bumps, and bruises skyrocket in the winter months. The culprit? Icy sidewalks and streets.
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Interpersonal EDGE: Stop Office Grapevine
 By Dr. Daneen Skube Tribune Media Services
Q. Sometimes I get really exhausted dealing with people issues at work. Other people don't seem to find the politics so tiring. Am I just a wimp?
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Retire Smart: Small Medicare Premium Hike Improves Senior's Social Security COLA
By Mark Miller
Tribune Media Services
Good news is hard to come by in this economy, but seniors can celebrate the final numbers on next year's Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and Medicare premiums.
The Social Security COLA and Medicare Part B premium go hand in hand, since the premium cost is deducted from most seniors' benefits. And while it was already known that the Social Security COLA for 2012 would be 3.6 percent, it wasn't clear how big a bite Part B would take from the increase.
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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News Spotlight: Black History Month- CADL Downtown Mid Day Movies
 February 2 Groundhog Day 2:00 pm—3:45 pm (Bill Murray) (PG)
February 7 The Help 1:00 pm—3:25 pm
(Jessica Chastain/Viola Davis) (PG-13)
February 9 The Help 1:00 pm—3:25 pm
(Jessica Chastain/Viola Davis) (PG-13)
February 14 Lady Sings the Blues 1:00 pm—3:25 pm
(Diana Ross/Billy Dee Williams) (R)
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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