MS9
High court refuses to hear Abo-Jama) appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court recently refused to hear an appeal for a new trial
tiled by celebrated death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal. The court decided
not to act on an autoqyatic appeal arising from a decision made last October
by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to reject Abu-Jamais request for a
new trial thai included compelling new evidence of gross misconduct by
Philadelphia police and prosecutors
This action by the nauon's highest court, fully expected by Abu-Jamal's
defense team, sets the stage for two significant events in coming weeks
Lawyers for Abu-Jamal will file a new appeal in federal District Court pre
senting ev ldence of misconduct by Philadelphia authorities and deliberate
erors by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge will sign a new warrant for Abu-Jamal's
execution as required by state law.
Spokesmen for Ridge concede that a federal judge will grant a stay of
Abu-Jamal's execution until the federal courts decide on the new appeal.
Abu-Jamal. an award-winning journalist, is on death row for the 1981
murder of Daniel Faulkner, a Philadelphia police officer. Prosecutors say
Abu-Jamal shot Faulkner, who was beating Abu-Jamal's brother. Eyewit
nesses >aid the assailant who shot Faulkner fled the scene after the police
officer shot Abu-Jamal. who tned to stop the beating of his brother. - Linn
Washington
*?
L'SDA remembers Carver
Recently U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman pro
claimed Oct. 4-8 as "'George Washington Carver Recognition Week."'
Among the weeklong activities was the naming of the USDA headquarters
in Beltsville. Md.. as the George Washington Carver Center. Glkkman was
joined by Thurgood Marshall Jr. and D. Bennie D. Mayberrv during the
ceremonies
"D. Carver was a remarkable mail." Glickman said. "His outstanding
and creative research improved the health and living conditions of the South
em farmer."'
While D. Carver is remembered for his scientific work with the peanut,
this chemist also developed industrial applications from other agricultural
crops and discovered hundreds of new uses for soybeans, pecans and sweet
potatoes. And his development and instruction in crop rotation methods for
conserv ing nutrients in the soil is a practice that has revolutionized the farm
ing industry. Dr. Carver is recognized its one of the finest scientists ever
known.
Wilson to get Missouri Honor Medal
Clint C. Wilson, professor of journalism in the Howard University
School of Communications and graduate professor in the Howard Gradu
ate School of Arts and Sciences, has been elected by the faculty of the Uni
versity of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism to receive the Missouri
Honor Medal.
This lifetime achievement award has been presented by the university
since 1930. Some of its recipients include Winston Churchill. Walter
Cmnkite. Tom Brokaw. Carole Simpson. Charlayne Hunter-Gaull and more
than 350 other distinguished communications professionals.
Wilson is a journalist and author. He serves as faculty, adviser to
Howard's student-run Hilltop, and has written for various news agencies,
including the Associated Press, Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Sentinel
and the Washington Post. He has also written and co-written several books,
including "Race. Multkulturalism and the Media: From Mass to Class
Communications" and "History of the Black Press."
INTERNATIONAL
ta
Rebels leaders return to Sierra Leone
Three months after the signing of the peace agreement, which ended
eight years of civil war in Sierra Leone, the two main3 rebel leaders. Cpl.
Foday Sankoh of the Revolutionary United Front, and Maj. Johnny Paul
Koroma of the defunct Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, have returned
home to help advance the peace process.
The return home of the two warlords did not ignite the sort of heroes
welcome that they probably anticipated.
Security, both at the airport and around the rest of the country's capital.
Freetown, was tight with tanks, helicopter gunships. alpha jets and thou
sands of rifle-carrying Nigerian-led West African peace-keeping troops,
known as ECOMOG. ,
The mood among the citizens was more somber and reflective than cele
bratory. Even supporters of the rebel movement acted reserved about their
leaders' return.
"This is no time for partying. I think the rebel leaders should start the
process of disarming their fighters, now." said Marian Kamara, a housewife
in F reetown. Ixinsana Fofana
Debate over abortion heats up in Kenya
NAIROBI. Kenya (IPS) The abortion debate between the church and
rights groups in Kenya has taken a nasty turn, with the government of Pres
ident Daniel arap Moi continuing to maintain its distance.
Enraged by the call to legalize abortion, the Catholic Church, arguing
that abortion violates the sanctity of human life, said it will not compromise
on the issue even if it means launching a door-to-door campaign.
'Abortion is the first-degree murder of an innocent, defenseless person
by a professional who is otherwise trained to defend life," said Archbishop
Ndingi Mwana a* Nzeki. who heads the Catholic Church in Nairobi, the
Kenyap capital. ?
Njoki Ngung'u of the International Federation of Women Lawyers.
Kenya chapter, said. "The right to choose whether or not to have an abor
tion is a right and need for every woman. The church must let women decide
for themselves."
Abortion is outlawed in Kenya and is permitted only in cases where the
mothers life is in danger or the fetus is severely deformed. Judith Achieng'
~ INDEX I
OPINION _ A6
SPORTS _ ~R1
RELIGION _ ?7
CLASSIFIEDS _ _ ill
HEALTH _ C3
ENTERTAINMENT C7
CALENDAR AIO
This Week In Black History
Oct. 14, 1958 - The District of Columbia Bar Association votes to
accept African American members.
Oct. 14, 1864 - The first African American daily newspaper, the
New Orleans Tribune, is published in both French and English.
Oct. 15,1957 - The Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation opens
in Los Angeles.
Oct. 20, 1924 - The first "Colored World Series" of baseball is
played in Kansas City, Mo. The Kansas City Monarchs whip the
Hillsdale team from Darby. Penn., in five games.
Colonial Williamsburg's black
employees still feel mistreated
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - A
group of black employees at
Colonial Williamsburg say they
remain discouraged and frus
trated a month after their com
plaints of being typecast as
slaves, being underpaid and
being denied advancement
became public.
The group wrote about their
concerns in May to the vice
president of ' the Colonial
Williamsburg Foundation's edu
cation division.
A forum arranged by the
foundation last month to discuss
the issues yielded no results,
employees say.
Black employees feel man
agement has not addressed their
concerns, said former employee
Bob Hubler. who continues to
serve as unofficial spokesman
for the employees.
He said some employees were
turned down for supervisory
roles. Most employees also do
not have the training needed to
advance because they are com
mitted to programs portraying
slavery during times the training
is offered, Hubler said.
"Their concerns are being
addressed, but we don't discuss
personnel "3 issues." Lorraine
Brooks, a Colonial Williams
burg spokeswoman said Thurs
day. "Their concerns are certain
ly not being ignored."
This year, Colonial Williams
burg began re-enacting the
harsh treatment of blacks dur- _
ing Colonial times in a program
that casts black employees in the
roles of slaves, preachers and
servants. White empldyees some
times portray their masters.
\ .
\ teaoc-^cad Ptbbb photo fcy Stew He_ner
Slav* Cowan Pamphlett, played by James Ingram, is restrained by Thomas Skinner, played by Ken
Treese, as other historical interpreters and tourists watch during a program called "Enslaving Virginia"
in historic Colonial Williamsburg.
Justices hear arguments in voting rights case
BY RICHARD CARELLI
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON - The
Supreme Court pondered the
federal government's power to
squelch changes in state and
local elections as discriminatory
even when the new plans would
leave racial and ethnic minori
ties no worse ofT.
Clinton administration
lawyer Paul Wolfson told the
justices hearing arguments in a
Louisiana case that targets of a
key voting-rights law lire "not
limited to an intent to make
matters worse for minorities."
But Michael Carvin, a Wash
ington lawyer representing the
Bossier Parish, La., School
Board, said Wednesday that the
law seeks only to thwart a new
plan if it abridges minority vot
ing rights.
"If there is no change, it has
not abridged the right to vote,"
he argued.
At issue is whether the Vot
ing Rights Act of 1965 autho
rizes Justice Department vetoes
of election plans that are non
retrogressive. A three-judge fed
eral 'tfourt in the District of
Columbia ruled that no such
authority exists.
The justices' ruling, expected
by late June, could affect many
of the voting-rights disputes
likely to arise after the 2000 cen
sus and ensuing reapportion
ment efforts. The decision will
dictate how vigorously the gov
ernment can invoke one part of
the 1965 law. .
In a separate case, the jus
tices heard arguments over
Hawaii's policy of letting only
people with Hawaiian blood
elect' leaders of a state program
benefiting descendants of the
islands' original residents. A
white citizen of Hawaii says the
provision amounts to unlawful
racial discrimination.
A decision in that case also is
expected by summer.
The Voting Rights Act's Sec
tion 5 requires federal pre-clear
ance of proposed electoral
changes, and authorizes denials
if the changes are deemed to
have a discriminatory "purpose
or effect."
State and local governments'
covered by Section 5 have the
burden of proving the changes
are not motivated by racial or
ethnic bias. Several justices com
mented Wednesday how difficult
it can be to prove such a nega
tive, and also how hard it is
determining the motives of mul
timember governmental bodies.
The parish School Board for
years has had its members elect
ed to four-year terms from 12
different districts. About 20 per
cent of the parish's population is
black, concentrated. in two
areas, but none of the 12 dis
tricts has a black majority.
As of 1990, no black ever
had been elected to the School
Board.
After the 1990 census
required a redrawing of the
School Board election map, the
local NAACP chapter proposed
creating two black-majority dis
tricts. The School Board opted
instead for a new map Hn 1992
with no such district, the same
See Voting rights on A9
bARGAIN^.
SL55 -----
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NOTICE MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED FIRMS
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is seeking minority and women-owned firms
(M/WBE) to bid on upcoming highway projects throughtout the state. The locations of the projects are:
I I ? I if
! 00 >0 > g 3 ?
_? PC QZ K J 2u __
8.1311801 Johnston 4 Gracing, Dranage, Paving, PVT Makings & Structures Metric 8%
1-95 & NC-50 Interchange m Benson
9.8043143 Nash 4 Widening, Grading, Drainage. Paving & PVMT Markings Metric 8% 4%
NC-43 from SB-1613 fWoodrufl Ave.) to SB-1535 (Peele Rd.)
8.1351302 Durham 5 Grading, Drainage. Paving, Pavement Markings. M*ng& Structures Metric 8%
NC-157 (Guess Road) from SR-1407 (Carver St) to SR-1449 (Umstead Rd.)
8.1511401 Rockingyiam 7 Widatwig Gracing. Paving & PVMT Marttings Metric 8%
NC-B7 from SR-2586 (Cook Florist Rd.) & SR-2594
(HokdayLoopRd.)ToUS-29riR9dsv*e ;
8.2510501 Rockingham 7 Gracing, Dranage, Paving, PVMT Markings & Structures ' Metric 5%
Bndge over Dan River 8 approaches on SR-2145
6.529001 B Randolph/ 8 Gracing, Drainage, Paving, PVMT Markings & Culverts
Chatham US-64 from Elistol intersection witoSR-2628 on West Glenn Ave. in Sier City Metric 8% 4%
82623301 Forsyth 9 Grading. Dranage. Paving, PVMT Martongs & Structures Metric 5%
Bridge over Winston-Salem Southbound Railway & approaches on
SR-3875 (Waujf*Dwn)
8.2662601 Cabarrus 10 Gracing. Drainage, Paving, PVT Markings & Structures Metric 5%
Bndge over Cockle Creek & approaches on SR-1621 ? ' *,
8.U671615 Mecklenburg 10 Grading, Dranage, Paving. Pavement Markings & Structures Metric 8%
CharlcOe outer loop from south of SR-28G6 to south of SR-2802
(Rocky River Church Rd.) in Charlotte
8.U672209 Mecklenburg 10 Gracing, Drainage, Paving, PVT Markings & Structures ? Metric 8%
West Charlotte outer loop from North of US-29/74 (WWgnson BM) to North of 1-85
6 678005B Mecklenburg 10 Gracing, Dranage. Pavings 4 Structures West Charlotte outer loop from Metnc 10% 5%
Brown GrierRd Extension to 0.507 km North of US-2974
8.2311901 Johnston 4 Gracing. Drainage, Paving iStructures English 5%
Brtdge over Hannah Creek & approaches on SR-1171 (Hannah Creek Rd.)
82451001 Harnett 6 Grading, Drainage, Paving, PVMT Markings & Structure English 6%
Bridge over Blade River & approaches on SR-1735
6.529006T Chatham 8 Widening, Gradtog, Drainage, Paving, PVT Markings & Structures English 7%~ ~3%
US-64 from Glenn Ave to ext 54ane section West of
N Cottage Grove Ave. ?i Sier City
8.T520806 Chatham 8 Grading, Paving, Guardrail t Pavement Markings English 8%
US-64 (Ptttsboro Bypass) from 115 miles East of SR-1514 to east of US-15/501
82700201 Ale^iany 11 Gracing Drainage, Paving, PVMT Markings 4 Structure English 5%
Bridge over line River S approaches on SR-1172 and cuhtort on Pine Swamp Rk?r.
82741301 Suny 11 Gracing, Drainage, Pavrxj, PVT markings 4 Structures Engfsh 8%
Bridge over Line Fisher fiver & approaches on SR-1360
82870601 McDowei 13 Gracing, Drarage, paving & Structure Encpsh "5% '
CdveiU Bndge over Crooked Peek 8 approaches on SR-1123
LETTING DATE: Tuesday, October 19, 1999
*** MONDAY, October 18,1999 6 PM - MIDNIGHT ***
North Raleigh Hilton ? 3415 Wake Forest Road - Raleigh. N.f.
Prime contractors will be available to receive quotes for trucking, sub-contracting and
materials. M/WBE's needing more information and/or technical assistance may come to
Room 522 to meet with representatives from the Bennington Corp., NCDOT's Supportive
Provider. (919)832-6027
NCDOT Office of Civil Rights & Business Development 1*800*522-0453
Certification of highway contracting firms ' Richard Chrisawn
Certification of supply/service/engineering firms: Robert Mathes
Comments or concerns: Delano Rackard: Director
- i