Journalist Nick Bryant finds sex scandals similarity “disheartening”
Nick Bryant, author The Franklin Scandal, and an expert on child trafficking and sexual abuse, whose writing on children’s issues has spanned two decades, declares, “I find the current Penn Scandal to be truly disheartening, because Penn State, law enforcement, and social services personnel were aware of Sandusky’s abuse of children in 1998 and also in 2002, but they seemed to turn a blind eye.Not only did officials in Pennsylvania turn a blind eye to child abuse, but Penn State and many of its affiliates continued to pour money into Second Mile until 2010,” noted Bryant. “The Sandusky case bears a resemblance to the network I uncovered in The Franklin Scandal, because Sandusky plundered Second Mile, and in The Franklin Scandal I show that Boys Town in Nebraska was plundered for underage victims. Both Second Mile and Boys Town contain vulnerable lower socioeconomic children who are highly susceptible to predators.”
Bryant, after researching child trafficking in the United States for seven years, wrote The Franklin Scandal, which one of the few commercially published books to address child trafficking in the U.S. The trafficking network Bryant illuminated pandered children from coast to coast, with many of the trafficked children taken from Boys Town, the distinguished Catholic orphanage in Nebraska.
Bryant’s writing on the plight of disadvantaged children in the United States has been published in numerous national journals, including the Journal of Professional Ethics, Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness, Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, and Journal of School Health. He is the co-author of America’s Children: Triumph of Tragedy, addressing the medical and developmental problems of lower socioeconomic children in America.
Producer’s Note for TV and Radio: Fun interaction opportunity: Friendly competition between hosts / DJs and Connections Academy teachers, students; Connections Academy experts available to talk about virtual education for Digital Learning Day; contact H. Harper at (504) 89706110
Attachment:
Digital_Learning_Day_Quiz_Bowl_Press_Release_FINAL_Jan_2012[1].pdf
STATE REPRESENTATIVE BADON ASKS DOTD FOR SAFETY BARRIERS ALONG I-10, BETWEEN BULLARD AND TWIN SPANS
State Representative Austin Badon has received positive feedback from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development about the installation of safety barriers in the median between the lanes of Interstate 10 in eastern New Orleans. Representative Badon made the request prior to the Christmas holidays, but the rash of serious traffic accidents along I-10 in the Michoud area has made the request even more urgent. Representative Badon has received confirmation from DOTD Secretary Sherri LaBas that this project will be a top priority as the OTD establishes the next round of I-10 cable wire barrier installations. According to Secretary LeBas, the cable barriers are specifically designed to prevent head-on collisions by preventing cars from crossing the median.
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letter_to_dotd.jpg
BESE Board Member Kira Orange Jones issued this statement about voting for John White to be the next State Superintendent of Education:
As I campaigned in my district this Fall, I heard from many who would have liked a national search to choose a new State Superintendent. Upon my election, I presented these concerns to the Governor and my fellow board members. If time was not a variable, if Ms. Tyler had not recently resigned, and if the Legislative Session were not bearing down upon us, my arguments might have been given more debate. Louisiana has been in transition on its educational leadership for eight months and the work we have before us cannot wait another six months for an extensive search which may lead us right back to the person we have before us. Our children are waiting for us to solve problems and get about the work of improving their schools, now. While disappointed that we do not have more time, I am convinced we need to act now.
John White was extensively vetted when he was chosen to lead the Recovery School District and his performance in this role has been exemplary. As an educator, I believe Mr. White is the extraordinary leader we all thought he was when he first came to Louisiana, and he has proven he is committed to impacting outcomes for all children across this state. Across the country, John White has earned a reputation of excellence and putting children and their families first. I believe he will excel as our next State Superintendent.
Attachment:
john white.pdf
D’SOUZA IN HISTORIC ELECTION TO BECOME NEW ORLEANS’ FIRST FAMILY COURT JUDGE
Women's Advocate and Attorney Bernadette D’Souza is running for Civil District Court Judge – Domestic Section 1, New Orleans’ first permanent family court seat. Ms. D’Souza has been a passionate and longtime supporter of a permanently dedicated Family Court for New Orleans and has devoted her legal career to the practice of family law, serving the public interest for over 18 years, many of them as Managing Attorney of the Family Law Unit at New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation (NOLAC) and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS). For her professionalism, unique expertise and commitment to public service, Ms. D’Souza has been recognized numerous times by her peers as one of our foremost practitioners of family law. She was honored as a New Orleans’ CityBusiness Woman of the Year for 2011, is a recipient of the Louisiana State Bar’s Career Public Interest Award and Association of Women Attorneys’ Wynne Professionalism Award.
Louisiana Weekly runs a great column from Assessor Williams
It's no secret we are big fans for the city's Single Assessor. In his own words, Erroll Williams explains his progress in consolidating the 7 offices into one during 2011. Check it out.
Hubby and I are back at MD Anderson this week for more tests. Everywhere we go, all the young people we meet are from Kenner, Chalmette, New Orleans. Never went back after the storm, even though there folks did. And they are all studying to be docs, med techs, etc. Damn.
He identifies what will be one of the main fights in State Legislature and Congress by Louisiana landowners for 2012
Angry that they might have to abide by Louisiana law and cleanup the radioactive and environmental messes oil and gas companies are leaving on lands they lease from private landowners, oil and gas are using their power and dollars to try to grab this property through some tricky lawyering. Families like Acadiana's Perrins are fighting back.
Attachment:
In Louisiana, Twist in Legal Fight Over Texaco Drilling Lease - NYTimes.com.pdf
But Kira Orange Jones shows she's made of tough stuff
Politics is often ugly and in the heat of promoting a candidate, any one can loose their bearing, get emotional and sometimes say and do inappropriate things. Usually, an apology can recover most relationships, as we “agree to disagree”.
Not so, however, with Tracie Washington.
I’ve been the target of Tracie’s vitriol myself, as some of you may recall. For simply expressing my opinion, Tracie snapped, calling me a racist and making personal attacks about everything from my appearance to my marriage. Finding out that I am not alone in being subjected to her rabid tirades has made enduring them easier.
It isn’t surprising to me that as we approach the last days of the BESE District 2 race, Ms. Washington, on behalf of her candidate Louella Givens, has resorted to bullying. In truth, it started at the candidate’s forum during the primary at Dillard University, where Ms. Washington cornered Kira Orange Jones and began shouting at her, sticking her finger in Kira’s face and demanding she drop out of the race. Those of us who have endured Tracie’s venom advised our candidate to be professional and just move on.
And that’s exactly what Ms. Orange Jones has done. But now that Kira’s position as the frontrunner is unassailable, Tracie has again resorted to bullying. She has filed court injunctions. She is stalking those who have endorsed Kira. She is sending out emails with Kira’s supposed schedule, encouraging Louella supporters to go and harass Kira.
All this because someone has decided to run for office and has the courage to say things need to change, that the 8 year incumbent did little to stop the meltdown in our public education system or offer creative responses. Kira, however, worked in the trenches after Katrina and is part of the organic reform movement that is making real progress on behalf of our children.
I hope you’ll ignore the bullying and stand up to it by voting your conscience. I’ll be voting proudly for Kira.
With all the recent focus on all the negative aspects of the race for BESE District 2, I figured it was time for a little levity to lighten the mood with a couple fun facts about Kira Orange Jones.
Fun Fact #1 – Kira was at President Obama’s Town Hall at UNO
Remember how you scrambled to get a ticket to the President’s Town Hall at UNO, calling everyone you knew who might have an ‘in’?
I certainly do.
Well, turns out Kira didn’t have to- she got an invitation to sit on stage behind the President.
At about the 22 minute mark in this video as the President prepares to take questions from the audience, the camera pans to show our very own Kira in the crowd!
Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice to be dedicated
10/24/2011
One of the nation’s leading litigants against oil and gas companies funds center to help law students and indigent clients
What: Dedication of the The Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, 540 Broadway St., Uptown New Orleans
When: Tuesday, Oct. 25, 5:30 – 7 p.m. CDT
Stuart's gift to Loyola will fund a fully functioning legal clinic which allows third-year law students the opportunity to represent indigent clients under the supervision of experienced attorneys. Stuart Smith graduated from Loyola's Law School in 1986.
Attachment:
Stuart H.pdf
9 in 10 Medicare Part D Enrollees Happy With Service
10/18/2011
In fact, now five years after the Medicare Part D prescription drug program went into effect, an overwhelming majority – 88 percent – of America’s seniors say they are satisfied with their individual plan and coverage. This is an increase of 10 percentage points since early 2006.
Download the Medicare Part D Satisfaction Survey. Seniors can enroll in or change their plans through Dec. 7. Contact the link for more info in your area on enrollment. Survey highlights: Eighty-three percent of survey respondents said their Part D premiums are affordable. Over 8 in 10 seniors say that Part D is delivering good value, and they would recommend it to their peers. Further, 95 percent of respondents say their plan is working well. Part D is lowering seniors’ drug costs, according to 80 percent of the survey’s respondents. Please download the powerpoint and use as needed.
Senator Landrieu Joins Kira Orange Jones This Saturday
10/13/2011
Join her and her friends from St. John, St. James, St. Charles and Assumption Parishes
This Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. at 425 W. Airline Highway, Suite A, LaPlace (Century 21 offices) SENATOR LANDRIEU SUPPORTS KIRA ORANGE JONES FOR BESE DISTRICT 2 Food. Friends. Family. Free event.
