Judge Tells Mississippi Schools To Stop The Segregation

The Justice Department accused the rural Mississippi Walthall County School District of permitting over 300 students to transfer to a school outside of their residential area. Most of the students were white. So, this shifted the racial makeup of each school system. Administrators at three other Mississippi schools were also accused of grouping white students in classrooms and black students in other classrooms in various grade levels. 

This has been a battle between several Mississippi school districts and the Justice Dept since the early 90’s.
In fact, the Justice Dept says despite lawsuits seeking reform, these school districts have become even more segregated over the last 20 years. The Walthall Co. School Board rejected a settlement in 2009 that would have overhauled the district's transfer policy and prevented students being assigned to classrooms based on race.

So, on April 13th 2010, Mississippi U.S. District Judge Tom Lee ordered the school district to significantly limit transfers and  to stop assigning students to classrooms that resulted in segregation. A software program to randomly assign students to classrooms was demanded.




See the full story at Reuters

Lenders Not There When Needed

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BY: Chloe Oliver

"....One day, I accompanied my mother to the pharmacy where she did business. As she attempted to place the needed items on her usual charge account there, the clerk stated that she was not sure if my mother could charge any more items until the balance was paid.
The clerk turned to ask the owner who was a few feet away working at the pharmacy cubicle. I heard the owner in a loud voice state that my mother could have anything in the store that she wanted and in any quantities that she needed. He also told the clerk not to ask him about this again.
My mother used this pharmacy for over 50 years. I have used them for more than 30 years. Naturally, I recommend the pharmacy to others. In my mother's declining years, she often stressed to be certain to pay any bill at the pharmacy upon her death. During the last year of my mother's life, her pharmacy bill averaged about $600 per month. I paid the bill.
Now, many Americans are facing difficult times. How have lenders and big business responded? They are so afraid of losing money that they are denying credit to those who need it most....."

Read the full story: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090310/OPINION01/903100334&s=a&page=2#pluckcomments

Chloe Oliver is a monthly opinion page writer for the Hattiesburg American Newspaper