VOL. 61, No. 10


One Section/Inserts


March 1 - 6, 2012


www.tristatedefender.com 75 Cents


U.S. Treasury ‘redirect’ will put the hurt on child support debtors


by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell Special to the Tri-State Defender


not to be identified, is a non-custo- dial parent of four children. Because of delinquent child support issues, this father likely will lose his only


boring under huge child support debts, prospects for a bright eco- nomic future are bleak, and grow bleaker by the day. An Arlington resident, who asked


For many non-custodial parents la- Looking good…


Memphis-area viewers of “The 84th Academy Awards” still are raving over the short, colored and natural hairstyle sported by ʻThe Helpʼsʼ Viola Davis. See Entertainment, page 14. (Photo by Bryan Crowe/A.M.P.A.S.)


Voter IDs: the ‘hanging chads’ of 2012


Special to the Tri-State Defender From New America Media


activists, journalists and voting rights advocates met recently to discuss the growing number of states that have adopted what many see as discrimi- natory voter registration laws. Such policies, they argue, do more to limit rather than expand democracy, threat- ening to disenfranchise millions in the lead up to the November elections. Citizen journalist Faye Anderson


WASHINGTON – A gathering of


“Once that order to seize funds is passed down, there is no more negotiating. Uncle Sam is going to win every time.”


disability back in 2002, it’s been a struggle just to make ends meet, let alone try to start catching up on my


source of income – a disability check – next March. “From the time I started receiving


Fred Hardeman, vice-president Regions Bank, Poplar Avenue


child support,” he said. “This last delinquent support statement I re- ceived from Shelby County put me at nearly $20,000 behind on my child support. I know I could be arrested at any time.


next year, my disability check will be sent to my bank account electroni- cally and then taken to pay my child support. I don’t know what I’m going to do.” “Title IV. D,” as it is called, re-


“Now I’ve come to find out that


quires states to take aggressive measures to collect delinquent child support payment. Last year, indi- vidual states were given the author-


SEE SUPPORT ON PAGE 2


was among those gathered at the Feb. symposium, hosted by the Center for American Progress. Recalling the controversy over determining the in- tent of voters who may have incom- pletely punched paper ballots during the 2000 presidential race, she voiced the likelihood that voter photo IDs will become “the hanging chads of the 2012 election.” Describing herself as a “chief evan-


gelist” for the Cost of Freedom Proj- ect, a grass-roots voting rights initiative, Anderson called for na- tional organizations, community ac- tivists and individuals to harness technology and social media to edu- cate voters about how to comply with the new laws.


SEE VOTE ON PAGE 2 - INSIDE -


• Redistricting – What is really going on?. See Opinion, page 4.


• AFSCME union wants ‘in’ on school merger process. See Community, page 11.


• Acts announced for 2012 Beale Street Music Festival. See Entertainment, page 15.


• Champ shoes fit the Tigers! See Sports, page 18.


MEMPHIS WEEKEND FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY H-76o Storms Wind - L-44o H-57o


REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE


JACKSON, MS Mostly Sunny


Friday H-81 L-43 H-73 L-44 H-82 L-53


- L-37o H-53o


Saturday H-60 L-37 H-57 L-33 H-61 L-39


Partly Cloudy - L-40o


Sunday H-58 L-41 H-47 L-31 H-61 L-40


courages its readers and the entire Greater Memphis community to help us identify the 50 deserving African-American women for the 2012 class of WOE. Once the nom- ination period ends, a special selec- tion committee will choose the honorees for this year. Those excep- tional women will be honored at the 5th Annual Tri-State Defender Women of Excellence Spring ‘High Tea’ Reception. The selection committee is seek-


munity to nominate another group of outstanding Women of Excellence! The New Tri-State Defender en-


years, The New Tri-State Defender has selected – from among hun- dreds of well-deserving nominees – 50 outstanding African-Ameri- can women from the Greater Memphis community to be hon- ored for their remarkable civic contributions and career achieve- ments. Once again, it is time for the com-


TSD seeks nominations for 2012 Women Of Excellence Each spring for the past four


WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE E


ing nominations of Women of Ex- cellence who have displayed exceptional courage, unwavering


defender.com.) 10, W


New Tri-State Defender, Women of Excellence, 203 Beale Street, Suite 200, Memphis, TN 38103; email: editorial@tri-statedefender.com. All nominations must be received


by March 23 at 5 p.m. This year’s gala celebration will


be held on April 27. (For more information, call 901-


523-1818) (For nomination form, see page or


conviction and extraordinary grace. Each candidate must be a local African-American woman execu- tive, business owner or community leader. Each woman should possess demonstrated success within her field of endeavor, be a positive role model whose contributions encour- age others, and be active in commu- nity service or organizational involvement. Forms should be mailed to The


visit www.tristate


Mayors step out on faith to end homelessness


Churches, congregations asked to solve problem for one family


end homelessness for one family? The answer would seem to be,


Can one church or congregation


and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell Jr., in collaboration with the Community Alliance for the Home- less, are asking local churches and congregations to join a faith-based partnership to end homelessness. As part of the initiative, each of the churches or congregations would be asked to end homelessness for one family. “During this term, my administra-


tion is narrowly focused on four pri- orities, including growing prosperity and opportunity for all, not just


soon be played out in Greater Mem- phis. Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr.


“Yes!” A fresh test of the question will


Pleasure shared…


Ruby Wilson – the “queen of Beale St.” – drew Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell Jr., celebrities such as Bobby “Blue” Bland, family and a host of friends to B.B. Kingʼs on Beale St. for her birthday cele- bration on Wednesday (Feb. 29) night. (Photos by Tyrone P. Easley. Visit www. tristatedefender .com for more party im- ages.)


some,” said Wharton. “As we work to put families on the path to perma- nent housing, we want to make sure that our limited resources are put to their best use. With the Faith-Based Partnership to End Homelessness, we truly will be one congregation, one family.” Luttrell said the Faith-Based Part-


nership is unique in that it specifi- cally


addresses family


homelessness. “Hopefully, through the Faith-


partner will provide a team of men- tors for their adopted family. The mentors will help the families with financial literacy, parenting, rela- tionship building, and overall com- munity support. Faith-based partners will also be


SEE HOMELESS ON PAGE 2


Based Partnership, vital community resources can be stretched further to reach more families than ever be- fore,” said Luttrell. Each participating faith-based


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