The Chronicle
Volume43,Number22 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. THURSDAY, February 4, 2016
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SB
Bound
Sweet
revenge
Change concerns SNAP hackers
BY JONATHAN DREW
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Advocates for the poor are concerned
about rule changes threatening food stamp
benefits for 110,000 people in North
Carolina if they don't meet work require
ments.
The change in the federal
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program affects able-bodied people ages
18 through 49 with no dependents. It
requires them to work, volunteer or attend
education or job-training at least 80 hours
a month to receive food aid. If they don't,
their benefits are cut off after three
months.
"What's problematic about this policy
is that it's not a test of one's willingness to
work," said Tazra Mitchell, a policy ana
lyst at the left-leaning nonprofit North
Carolina Budget and Tax Center. "It
applies regardless. No matter how hard
they're looking for a job, if they don't find
one in three months, their food aid is
gone."
The requirements date back to a 1996
federal welfare reform law, but they were
waived for nearly every state during the
recession that began in 2008. North
Carolina is among 21 states where the
waiver ends this year.
Across the country, an Associated
Press analysis shows nearly 1.1 million
adults stand to lose their benefits this year
if they do not find a way to meet work
requirements. The number affected in
North Carolina is among the largest, fol
lowing Florida's 300,000 and Tennessee's
150,000.
The waiver expired in January in 23
North Carolina counties, while the rest will
lose the waiver by July 1,
In Forsyth County, Margaret Elliott,
executive director of Crisis Control
Ministry, said, "Crisis Control will be pre
pared to assist those individuals who face
a cutback in food stamps, but we realize
that a food pantry is not the long-term
solution to this problem." Crisis Control's
food pantry served 7,098 people in 2015,
and about 60% of these clients receive
food stamps.
North Carolina's unemployment rate
See Change on A9
Photos by Timothy Ramsey
Dr. Robert Brown receives ceremonial head wear from King Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi.
Triad leader installed a
chief of Nigerian kingdom
BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY
FOR THE CHRONICLE
GREENSBORO - Helping others
has been instilled in Dr. Robert "Bob"
Brown since he was child. His grand
mother, who raised him, taught him
to help any and everyone whenever
he could.
That helped lead him to become
royalty on Friday, Jan. 29, when he
was installed a chief of the Ikorodu
kingdom.
Brown has helped many individu
als from the country of Nigeria come
to the United States to further their
education as well as many philan
thropic works throughout the country.
One of those individuals whom
Brown has helped is Oba Kabiru
Adewale Shotobi, the King of the
" Nigerian city of Ikorodu. As a way to
show Brown his gratitude in all he
has done, Shotobi and the citizens of
Dr. Robert Brown sits as he is
celebrated at his Coronation
Ceremony on Friday, Jan. 29.
Ikorodii came to Greensboro to install
Brown as a Chief of the Ikorodu king
dom.
The ceremony was filled with
individuals from the nation of
Nigeria, as well as native Nigerians
who have made the United States
their home.
The national anthems of both the
United States and Nigeria were
played to start the evening off, fol
lowed by a brief introduction of the
ceremony's distinguished guests. A
routine by the dance troop "Spirit of
David" from Bennett College set the
tone of joy and celebration for the
night's event. Dr. Brown accompa
nied by his wife then entered the
room to a standing ovation and roar
ing cheer from the audience in atten
dance.
A history of Dr. Brown's career
was given and many of the charitable
deeds he has performed over the
years were chronicled. Shotobi then
took the microphone and gave a
See Chief on A10
Judge now
pondering
Voter ID case
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE _____
A federal judge is now weighting the evidence and
arguments in the N.C. NAACP vs. McCrory trial that
began last July.
The main argument of the plaintiffs against a new
photo ID requirement that will go into effect for the first
time this year was delayed after the General Assembly
altered the law to allow for exemptions for voters who
have a reasonable impediment to getting a photo ID.
- - ^though they acknowledge the change, attorneysrep
' resenting the NAACP and the U.S. Justice Department
argue tnat a pnoto lu
requirement places discrim
inatory burdens on minority
voters. During closing argu
ments on Monday, Penda
Hair said over the 18-hour
time period they were
allowed to argue their case,
they presented more than
enough evidence that
proves the photo ID require
ment would make it hard for
minorities to vote.
As she stood before U.S.
District Judge Thomas
Schroeder, Hart mentioned
blacks and Hispanic voters
have to overcome a number
of obstacles to obtain a photo ID, such as transportation,
and financial issues.' ?
She also discussed how the statue differs from similar
laws in South Carolina and Georgia. The N.C. law only
allows voters to use IDs issued from the N.C. Department
of Motor Vehicles, while other states allow citizens to use
any photo ID issued in the United States including work
or school identification cards.
"The Department trf Motor Vehicles is a dysfunctional
organization," she said. "We all have had our issues with
the DMV. They placed hurdles in front of people to make
it hard to obtain photo IDs, even ones that are free."
Attorney representing the state, Thomas Farr, said
because the law hasn't been implemented yet, there is no
proof that it will have a negative impact on minority vot
ers. Fair also said the plaintiffs didn't have any evidence
to back their claim.
"The plaintiffs' argument makes for some good sound
bites, but that's pretty much it," he continued. "I have not
heard one shred of evidence that proves the photo ID
requirement would keep blacks and Hispanics from vot
mg.
Farr also argued that only a small percent of black and
Hispanic voters don't have a state issued photo ID. During
See ID on A2
Rev. Barber
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