wrestler to win


state title


Sports C3


Nobles and Daughters 2012 Lifestyles B1


VOL. 103, NO. 11 Three Sections


Pittsburgh Courier Howsie appointment reactions


www.newpittsburghcourier.com NEW Published Weekly MARCH 14-20, 2012 INSIDE


“The primary focus must be on the quality of service we provide, across the board, regardless of what race the attorneys may be.”


ELLIOT HOWSIE Fab 40 Awards


Reception 2012 Special Section


Study finds educational disparities


by Rebecca Nuttall Courier Staff Writer


According to a recently re-


leased study by theU.S.De- partment of Education’s Of- fice for Civil Rights, Black students face harsher disci- pline, have less access to rigorous high school curric- ula, and are more often taught by lower-paid and less experienced teachers. “The power of the data is


not only in the numbers themselves, but in the im- pact it can have when mar- ried with the courage and the will to change,” said Ed- ucation Secretary Arne Duncan. “The undeniable truth is that the everyday educational experience for many students of color vio- lates the principle of equity at the heart of the Ameri- can promise. It is our collec- tive duty to change that.” The study looked at college


SEE EDUCATIONAL A4


Choosing utilities savings


by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer


While natural gas cus-


tomers have been able to shop for the best price since utility deregulation in 1999, not everyone does, or can, take advantage of their options. Low-income customers


subsidized either through enrollment in LIHEAP or their gas company’s Cus- tomer Assistance Programs automatically get billed at the lowest available price regardless of their distribu- tion company. Everyone else can either


pay their company’s default price, or shop for a supplier themselves. In this in- stance, residential cus- tomers can save on the ad- ministrative fees their sup- plier would normally charge, and on the price of


SEE CHOOSING A4


by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer


Reaction among African-Ameri-


can community leaders to Al- legheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald’s appointment of Elliot Howsie to lead the public defend- ers office has been largely positive, with most confident that he can change the office for the better. Urban League of Greater Pitts-


burgh President and CEO Esther Bush said she’s “very supportive of the choice.” “I amextremely optimistic.He is


a Pittsburgher who understands the community, the system, and the result of the politics that has plagued that office,” she said. “I didn’t know Elliot. But now that I’ve met him, what comes through are his values. I look forward to working with him and I am confi- dent that the people of Allegheny Countywill be better served by his


SEE HOWSIE A4 ELLIOT HOWSIE $1.00


Voter ID bill expected to pass in PA


by Rebecca Nuttall Courier Staff Writer


This week, Pennsylvania will most likely


become the 16th state to pass legislation requiring voters to show photo identifica- tion at the polls. “I think the Re-


publicans have been very clear that they want to regain the White House and this is one of their strate- gies to do that. I see this as non- sensical, not something that is a high priority in Pennsylvania,” said State House Rep. Jake Wheat- ley. “The fact that we have so many issues of critical importance, the fact that we’re spending two three days on this subject matter, is comical to me.” H.B. 1523 would require voters to show a


JAKE WHEATLEY


photo ID such as a driver’s license, student ID, county or municipal card or ID from a


SEE VOTER A4 Dungy aids local church $1.2Mcampaign


by Rebecca Nuttall Courier Staff Writer


During the more than 10


years now retired NFL Coach Tony Dungy worked for the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of his fondest memory was time spent at Bethany Baptist Church. Now, the Homewood church is en- gaged in a stewardship campaign to raise money for a new sanctuary. In 2001, Bethany Baptist


completed construction of Bethany Center, a multi- purpose building dedicated to the church’s community ministry. However, in 2008, when the church was de- molished, due to structural deficiencies, the Bethany Baptist congregation was forced to move its worship services to the center. “Those were 12 very spe-


cial years for me, but I be- lieve what was a big part of whatmade it special forme was Bethany,” Dungy said. “The problem is the min- istry and the outreach can’t


GIVING BACK—Tony Dungy speaks to the Bethel Baptist Church members and friends in his effort to help them in their time of need. (Photo by Debbie Norrell)


exist at the same time in the center. The recreation, for the kids, so they will have something to do, can’t exist.” In his address to the audi-


ence at “An Evening with The Dungys” onMarch 8 at Heinz Field, Dungy asked for help raising $1.2million for the new sanctuary. He also talked about his early years with the Steelers and the impact Coach Chuck Noll, former Steelers owner Art Rooney Sr., and other Christian players had on him. “(Noll) said, ‘You’re in the


NFL now, and this is your profession, but this is not your life. I’m here to help you find your purpose in life,’” said Dungy, recalling an early meeting new play- ers had with Coach Noll. “Anywhere I go, I’m still re- ferred to as a former Pitts- burgh Steeler.” Dungy’s wife, Lauren


Dungy, shared the story of the first time her and her husband attended Sunday


service at Bethany Baptist. The church was recom- mended to them by one of the teamchaplainswith the Pittsburgh Steelers. “After that awesome wor-


ship experience, our search was over.What stood out to us more than anything else was the sense of commu- nity,” said Lauren Dungy. “We were quickly drawn to the warm loving sense at Bethany. The seeds were planted early that the church was not just a place to attend on Sunday.” To date, Bethany Baptist


has been able to raise ap- proximately $600,000, with $530,000 of the total com- ing from the church’s mem- bers. They have also re- ceived a $100,000 challenge grant from the Richard KingMellon Foundation. “As a pastor, we see the


devastation that has hit our community,” said Pastor William Glaze. “One of the focuses we have is we have


SEE DUNGY A4 2-1-1 offers one-stop human services info


by Ashley Johnson Courier Staff Writer


As people continue to suf-


fer economic hardships, such as unemployment, high gas prices, etc., there is now an ever-growing need for assistance. Well now there is a single placewhere individuals seeking assis- tance can get all the infor- mation needed, without having to spend a lot of time. After six months of work-


ing on a limited basis, the United Way is now intro- ducing the PA 2-1-1 South- west hotline, a free human services hotline, which will


Pittsburgh Courier NEW


To subscribe, call 412-481-8302 ext. 134 or FAX 412-481-1360


now be fully opera- tional and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Like 9-1-1 is nation-


ally recognized for its emergency services, individuals will be able to dial 2-1-1 to speak to trained pro- fessionals and gain information


to


human services avail- able in their area, services such as util- ity and eviction pre- vention, food, shelter and transportation assistance. “The big thing


JULIE DeSEYN


(about the 2-1-1 hot- line) is when people are in need they often do not know where to turn, they make nu- merous calls and often times get lost in themaze of the differ- ent agencies and phone numbers,” said Bob Nelkin, president of United Way Al- legheny County. “By having one simple, easy to remember number, this will help people get assistance sooner.” Right now, the hot- line is available in Al-


Bill Fletcher Jr. says


GOP’s circle of clowns playing with fire Opinion A6


legheny, Armstrong, Butler, Fayette and Westmoreland counties. But Julie DeSeyn, director of PA 2-1-1 South- west and Programs for Fi- nancially Struggling Adults & Families, United Way, says that over the next two- years, they hope to reach 11 counties in all. DeSeyn said that the hot-


line is important not only be- cause it is valuable for the community and it is an easy way for individuals to find many resources at one num- ber, but also because this is a statewide network that can


SEE 2-1-1 A4


Nyama first city league


America’s best weekly


Slave image used in Pa. atheist


billboard National A2


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33