The LuLa Edition #4,556, July 15th, 2021

 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER NAMED FOR NAACP DINNER 

 STATE REP, BIDEN ELECTOR SLATED AS NAACP KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR FALL FREEDOM FUND BANQUET

Malcolm Kenyatta a Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 181st district will honor the Wilkes-Barre NAACP Branch #2306 by being the Keynote Speaker for this year's Annual Freedom Fund Banquet to be hosted by Gus Genetti's Hotel and Conference Center located in downtown Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The date of the event will be Friday October 15th, 2021 at 6:30 pm.

Kenyatta earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in strategic communication from Temple University and a Master of Science in public communication from Drexel University.

Kenyatta completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett Fellow.

Kenyatta was selected as one of seventeen speakers to jointly deliver the keynote address at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. This made him, Sam Park, and Robert Garcia the first openly-gay speakers in a keynote slot at aDemocratic National Convention.

Kenyatta was one of 20 electors selected by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party to vote in the Electoral College for Joe Biden in the 2020 United States presidential election.

Details are forthcoming, inquiries are to be directed to: wbnaacp2306@gmail.com.

 

WHY THE BIDEN SPEECH ON VOTING RIGHTS FELL SHORT

President Biden’s speech in Philadelphia on Voting Rights was passionate and was regarded as a strong take-down of Republican attempts to rig the Election process. No less an advocate of that than Senator Mitch McConnell mocked it and called it nonsense. So, you know the President was on the right track.

But something huge was missing. Biden needed to signal that in this one instance, a filibuster rule needed to be changed so this could pass with a simple majority. Republicans will not budge on this one because it is their only path to victory.  The Democrats have won the popular vote in the last 7 of 8 election. (2004 being the lone exception). With the Electoral College not being changed, Democrats must preserve democracy and voting rights for ALL as we know it.

Maybe Biden will move toward this and his reluctance to do so is a strategy to make sure his infrastructure bills are passed. But something must be done by the party in power. It would be a sin if the Civil Rights Acts of the 60s become diluted because of a Conservative Supreme Court and nefarious state Legislatures hellbent on keeping Americans from color from voting.

 

 SENATE DEMOCRATS REACH $3.5 TRILLION BUDGET AGREEMENT

Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Biden (Photo: CNN) 

It appears that the Democrats in the Senate, both middle of the road and progressive have galvanized support on a social infrastructure bill that addresses climate change and most importantly help for seniors with getting dental work and hearing devices to improve their quality of life. 

Schumer said after a lengthy meeting on Tuesday that Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee had reached an agreement on the bill. The measure will include Mr. Biden's "human" infrastructure priorities not covered by a bipartisan proposal, such as childcare, health care, education and additional provisions related to climate change. Democrats will attempt to pass the measure in the Senate through reconciliation, a process that will allow the legislation to be approved without any Republican votes.

"We are very proud of this plan. We know we have a long road to go. We're going to get this done for the sake of making average Americans' lives a whole lot better," Schumer told reporters on Tuesday. The bill will also include an expansion of Medicare benefits to cover dental, hearing and vision, and contain a provision expanding the child tax cuts established by the American Rescue Plan.

Mr. Biden's lunch with senators comes before a meeting in the afternoon with a bipartisan group of mayors and governors to tout the infrastructure proposals.

 

WHILE SOME TRUMP BIRDS FLY AWAY, TIFFANY MIGRATES TO TRUMP NEST 

Tiffany Trump  (Photo: People Magazine)  

While Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner seem to be distancing themselves more and more from former president Donald Trump, younger daughter Tiffany Trump may be thinking this is her moment to shine — and her wedding plans suggest that Marla Maples’ daughter, at least, has no problem aligning herself with the Donald Trump brand. Recent moves by Ivanka like her vaccine selfie and midsummer trip to Aspen amid Trump’s Dallas CPAC appearance seem geared at showing just how different from her dad Ivanka can be, but Tiffany — who has long remained more at the outskirts of Trump’s orbit than her older sister — is reportedly considering a family wedding ceremony with fiancé Michael Boulos at her dad’s very favorite place: Palm Beach’s Mar-a-Lago.

“They both want to marry in a big ceremony, your basic international spectacle,” a source tells People of Tiffany’s plans. Boulos, whom she started dating in 2018, proposed in January 2021 and has since begun eagerly planning with his fiancée. “Tiffany likes the idea of a glamorous and glitzy affair and, surprisingly, so does Michael.”

Or better stated, she wants to get whatever dad still has while the getting is good. (Business Insider, LuLac)

 

GOV. WOLF JOINS PRESIDENT BIDEN TO PROTECT THE SACRED RIGHT TO VOTE

Governor Wolf and the President (Photo: AP) 

Governor Tom Wolf joined President Joe Biden in Philadelphia today and issued the following statement on the president’s commitment to protect the right to vote.

“I am proud to join President Biden in Philadelphia, the birthplace of our nation, to stand up for the freedom to vote and the sacred right to have your voice heard in our elections. Not only will I stand against any efforts to roll back our freedoms, I will continue to push for changes to take down the barriers to voting that still exist.

“This is a critical moment for our democracy.  Some bad actors in the state legislature and across the country are spewing lies and debunked conspiracy theories to make people question the results of the November election. These are the same lies they used to try to throw out every vote cast in the November ​2020 election and ultimately caused the January 6 insurrection which shocked our nation with images of horrendous violence and destruction as a mob invaded the U.S. Capitol.

“Now these bad actors are pushing Arizona- style sham election reviews that are a chaotic and embarrassing mess that divide people and waste taxpayer dollars. They’re the same fringe politicians who want to pass laws to take away the freedom to vote for their own political gain. It is shameful and un-American.

“Pennsylvanians believe in freedom and fairness, and I share President Biden’s commitment to protecting our elections and the sacred right to vote. That is why I recently vetoed a bill that was disguised as election reform but was about creating barriers to voting. All of us must stand united to defend the core values of our country and protect our democracy. Future generations are depending on us to rise to the moment.”

 

REP. CARTWRIGHT ANNOUNCES $3.8 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced that Children’s Service Center of Wyoming Valley (CSC) received a $3,811,484 million first-time grant award through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

Currently, there are no Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic’s (CCBHC) serving Luzerne and Wyoming Counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where people have suffered emotional turmoil from economic hardship and intergenerational poverty for decades. This is reflected in regional statistics of diseases of despair, like addiction, overdose and suicidal ideations. CSC’s approved application and award grant will give them the ability to serve and make a positive impact on the lives of many children, teens and adults with serious cases of mental illness, emotional disturbance and substance use disorders.

“Mental health illnesses are often unseen and difficult to understand. That’s why we need to ensure resources for our kids’ mental health and well-being are as accessible as possible,” said Rep. Cartwright. “I’m gratified to have been able to help Children’s Service Center become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic and secure this federal award. This funding will provide support for kids and their families, so they do not have to deal with mental health struggles alone.”

“The Children’s Service Center is proud to receive this grant and we will spend the next several months organizing under CCBHC criteria.  This two-year grant allows us the time necessary to become a fully certified CCBHC or, as it is known in PA, an Integrated Community Wellness Center (ICWC). We have several of the programs required to become a CCBHC already in place; several have been running for decades. We also have established relationships that will serve us well in this process. I believe in CSC’s readiness to implement this model of care and improve on the integrated care available to those we serve in Northeastern and North Central PA,” said Mike Hopkins, President and CEO of the Children’s Service Center.

“CSC currently offers a model of care that includes behavioral health, primary care, pharmaceutical and soon we will be adding a lab; all to offer one stop, integrated care for our clients. We are excited by the opportunity and challenge of adding over 60 new staff to the 475 existing staff working every day to improve the overall health and well-being of those we serve and we thank Congressman Matt Cartwright and Senator Bob Casey for their interest in and tremendous support of our effort,” Hopkins continued.

 

CASEY INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO EXPAND MEDICAID FOR PREGNANT, POSTPARTUM WOMEN

AN ESTIMATED 50,000 WOMEN EACH YEAR EXPERIENCE SEVERE MATERNAL MORBIDITY OR SEVERE COMPLICATIONS AFTER GIVING BIRTH

Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives)

Senator U.S. Senator Bob Casey  introduced the Improving Coverage and Care for Mothers Act to support women before, during and after they give birth to help reduce pregnancy-related health complications. Continued access to health care is vital to a healthy pregnancy, and although Medicaid pays for almost half of all births in the United States, strict eligibility requirements and long wait-times for appointments can prohibit women from receiving the services they need and deserve. This legislation would expand Medicaid so that anyone who is pregnant or one-year postpartum would be automatically eligible for the program.

“An estimated 50,000 women each year experience severe maternal morbidity or severe complications after they leave the hospital, and Black women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications compared to their white peers. We must do better for pregnant women in this country and ensure that every woman, regardless of her race, ethnicity or income, has access to the care she needs,” said Senator Casey. “We must build on the successes of the American Rescue Plan and provide every mother, in every state, with access to life-saving health care.”

The Improving Coverage and Care for Mothers Act would also add midwives, doulas and lactation consultants as Medicaid providers and ensure adequate Medicaid reimbursement rates for the services under the bill. The federal government would provide states with a 100 percent Federal Medical Assistance Percentage payment for the new services and coverage.

 

MEDIA MATTERS 

 

JILL GARRETT 

Jill Garett former Health Beat Reporter at WNEP pased away  June. Garrett was a mainstay at 16 and delved into various medical issues for her broadcast audience., Locally she got her start at WBAX Radio in Edwardsville when it was a Top 40 outlet in the 70s. 

She was always active and became a national celebrity in 1972 during the Agnes Flood. She organized an outing at Frances Slocum Park and was given a thumbs up by none other than the President, who at the time was one Richard Nixon. 

 Jill was also the first African American female to anchor a news broadcat in NEPA.

Friends and families are mourning the loss of a young activists and later, a mature and measured TV professional. Our hearts go out to her family and friends. 

 

WALN TV

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM 

 Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on The Mothership 1340/1400 am, 100.7 and 106.7 fm; and at 7:30 on The River 105 and 103.5. 

 

BOBBY V’s DOO WOP SUNDAY NIGHT

1987

Our 1987 logo.

US began escorting re-flagged Kuwaiti tankers in Persian Gulf………Petra Felke (E Ger) throws javelin 78.89 m (women's record)……RNI (Brooklyn New York pirate radio station) begins broadcasting on 1620 AM…….Red Sox waive Bill Buckner, the goat of last year's World Series…….Said Aouita of Morocco runs world record 5,000 m (12:58.39)…….IBM-PC DOS Version 3.3 (updated) released……..USSR performs underground nuclear Test……………….United States Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige, Jr. dies in a rodeo accident at a California ranch……….Rick Astley releases hit single, “Never Gonna Give You Up”………. Backstage at Carnegie Hall in New York, Liza Minelli meets guests after her show, including Henry Kissinger, Nancy Kissinger, Donald Trump and his wife Ivana Trump,………

Lieutenant-Colonel Oliver North, former aide to former National Security Adviser John Poindexter, is sworn in on July 7, 1987, before the House and Senate Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in Washington, District of Columbia, on arms sales to Iran and diversion of profits to Nicaraguan Contra rebels. North testified under limited immunity. The "Irangate" saga erupted 30 November 1986 into a new crisis for the US President Reagan administration with the resignation of Admiral John Poindexter as the President's National Security Advisor and the dismissal of North, a member of the National Security Council Staff. "Ollie" North, a much-decorated Marine officer, known to White House cynics as the President's "Swashbuckler in Chief", was linked to the transfer of some $30 million profit from the Iran weapons sales to Contra rebels fighting the left-wing Sandinista government in Nicaragua. ... 

then Senator Joseph Biden, D-Delaware, speaks at a press conference in Boston at the start of what was planned as three-day campaign trip through New England…and in this week 1987 the number one song in America and LuLac land was “Luka” by Suzanne Vega.

 Here is the artists talking about the story behind the song.