Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas Permit No. 01949 TEXAS TPA PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION This paper can be recycled Vol. 39 No. 33 Website: theaustinvillager.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 512-476-0082 The Villager & Black Registry Company December 30, 2011 Osama bin Laden’s Death Voted Texas Minority Voting Power Threatened Top Story of 2011 Special to the NNPA from the St. Louis American The killing of Osama bin Laden during a raid by Navy SEALs on his hideout in Paki- stan was the top news story of 2011, followed by Japan’s earth- RAPPIN’ quake/tsunami/meltdown disas- ter, according to The Associated Tommy Wyatt Press’ annual poll of U.S. editors Osama bin Laden and news directors. Union’s financial turmoil was Political season The death of bin Laden, No. 4. the al-Qaida leader who master- The international flavor of heats up. minded the Sept. 11 terror at- these top stories contrasted with tacks, received 128 first-place last year’s voting - when the Gulf While much of the attention votes out of 247 ballots cast for of Mexico oil spill was the top is being given to the Presiden- the top 10 stories. The Japan di- story, President Barack Obama’s tial candidates running for the saster was next, with 60 first- health care overhaul was No. 2, opportunity to take on Presi- place votes. Placing third were and the U.S. midterm elections dent Barack Obama in the fall, the Arab Spring uprisings that were No. 3.Information from The there is a lot of interest being rocked North Africa and the Associated Press contributed to The Roberts Court, 2010 Back row (left to right): Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen G. Breyer, Samuel A. shown in local races. A record Middle East, while the European this report. Alito, and Elena Kagan. Front row (left to right): Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Chief Justice John G. number of candidates have filed Roberts, Anthony Kennedy, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg for local races. TDS AND GARDEN-VILLE ARE The race for District Attor- NOW ACCEPTING CHRISTMAS By Aswad WalkerSpecial legislators publicly expressed take away voting power from ney is getting a lot of attention. to the NNPA from concern that the lower court- Blacks and Latinos,” Coleman Former District Judge Charlie TREES FOR RECYCLING the Houston Defender produced maps negatively im- explained. Baird is taking on DA Rose- Clean Christmas trees 3016 FM 1327 The case of Texas redis- pacted voting power in histori- “This stay is the worst mary Lehmberg. Baird retired and organic decorations will be Creedmoor, TX 78610 tricting took another dramatic cally Black districts. thing that could have ever hap- from the bench earlier this year accepted free of charge from De- 7am-dusk Mon-Sat turn recently as the U.S. Su- “From the perspective of pened because Section 5 of the and almost immediately started cember 26-January 31. Garden-Ville Eco-Depot preme Court granted state Attor- the Texas Legislative Black Cau- Voting Rights Act is now in front campaigning for the position. Christmas trees, holly, in Bee Cave ney General Greg Abbott’s re- cus we support the interim plans of the U.S. Supreme Court, where Lehmberg is completing her pumpkins and other living deco- 4001 RR 620 S. Bee quest to temporarily block in- for the Congressional seats and there is no appeal of the rulings first term in that position. rations will be accepted at the Cave, TX 78738 terim redistricting maps. the State Senate maps,” said of the highest court in the land,” Precinct 1 County Commis- times and locations listed below. 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 9am Some view the fallout Houston State Rep. Sylvester said Coleman. sioner Ron Davis has drawn 3 The decorations must be free of 3pm Sat from the decision merely as an Turner, one of the five initially Coleman says he cannot candidates for his position. lights, ornaments, metal, flocking Garden-Ville Georgetown inconvenience to Texas voters voicing reservations.He was predict how the current saga will Among them are Richard and other non-living contami- 250 WL Walden Rd. and aspiring candidates. Others, joined by Houston lawmakers play out, but believes there is ill Franklin III, Arthur Sampson, nants. Living materials will be Georgetown, TX 78626 8am however, view the stay as a di- Alma Allen, Harold Dutton, intent behind Abbott’s and Victor Gonzales . Davis has repurposed through Texas Or- 5pm Mon-Sat rect attempt to weaken Black and Borris Miles and Senfronia Th- actions.“The goal of conserva- said that, if elected, this would ganic Products, the composting For more information, visit Latino voting power by disman- ompson. tives is to get rid of the entire be his last term on the court. division of Texas Disposal Sys- www.texasdisposal.com, or tling critical provisions of the “We voiced our concerns Voting Rights Act; that’s been One of the biggest issues tems, to be made into products call TDS Customer Care at Voting Rights Act. but we never asked for a stay,” their stated goal for the last five that is creating a lot of uncer- like mulch and compost. 800-375-8375. Visit The Supreme Court’s Turner said. “We would have to 10 years,” Coleman said. “But tainty for this election is the Texas Organic Products www.garden-ville.com for emergency stay means candi- preferred the Supreme Court to they can’t get rid of it in Con- uncertainty over the U. S. Con- at TDS Landfill certified organic products. dates were given until Dec. 19 stay out of this matter entirely, gress, so they go to the courts because you never know what’s gressional Districts lines. That Republican Congressman Cites 1st to file for office. The stay could where they have the ability to case is now before the U. S. Su- delay legislative and congres- going on in the minds of Su- win a case because the courts preme Court. The court placed Lady’s Butt in Rant Against sional primaries currently sched- preme Court justices.“I hope have conservative judges who a stay on the Federal Judges Healthy Food Initiative uled for March 6 until May. The they don’t do anything to agree with their point of view. decision to redraw the lines that groups involved in the redistrict- weaken or eliminate the Voting “A removal of her project is obesity. And look were done by the Texas Legis- Shrimp, Cheetos Lover Sen ing battle are scheduled to make Rights Acts, specifically Sec- preclearance doesn’t just affect at her big butt,” one female lature. They threw out the plan senbrenner Echoes Lim- baugh, oral arguments before the court tions 2 and 5.” Texas, but every state. What the church member who was present that would place Austin and San Plans Apolog on Jan. 9. Section 2 of the Voting Supreme Court tells Texas to do Special to the NNPA from during the apparently spontane- Antonio in the same district. The interim maps in ques- Rights Act contains a general becomes the law of the land. the Afro-American Newspaper ous comments told the Journal- Judges Orlando Garcia and tion were drawn by a San Anto- prohibition on voting discrimi- This stay is the most dangerous First Lady Michelle Sentinel. Xavier Rodriquez reunited San nio court’s three-judge panel af- nation. Section 5 deals with the thing that ever happened with Obama’s physical dimensions He said it is hypocritical Antonio neighborhoods by re- ter complaints were raised that process of “preclearance.” regard to the Voting Rights Act,” were the target of criticism by a of the First Lady to push healthy moving District 35 from Aus- the redistricting maps produced “Preclearance is what pro- added Coleman. Wisconsin Republican recently eating and exercise at the same tin and reuniting District 25, during the last Texas Legislative tects Black and Latino districts The San Antonio court’s who criticized the First Lady’s time hamburgers and fries are the district that would be repre- session bolstered the political around the country,” said interim maps were produced to Healthy Food Initiative as un- served at the White House. sented by Lloyd Doggett. The power of Tea Party and Republi- Coleman. “Texas Attorney Gen- allow Texas elections to take warranted government intru- Sensenbrenner’s rant ech- U. S. Supreme Court is expected can lawmakers while seriously eral Greg Abbott wants to get place as originally scheduled sion. oes commentary by conserva- to issue a ruling in the case in damaging the voting power of rid of preclearance”. while lawmakers worked to Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner tive radio talk show host Rush early January. minorities. “Preclearance means achieve a final redistricting map (R-Wis.) issued an apology to Limbaugh who singled out the In the mean time, Doggett Abbott contended that when a map is drawn the U.S. resolution. the First Lady Dec. 22 in a hand- First Lady’s physical dimen- has already drawn an opponent the lower court’s interim maps Justice Department has to give “I can’t say right now written note. The congressman’s sions in criticizing her for travel- in the person of former Rail- undermined the “will of the its opinion on whether or not it whether the Supreme Court’s spokeswoman declined to detail ing the country with her mes- road Commissioner Michael people” and asked the Supreme harms minorities and their vot- stay is good, bad or indifferent,” what the note said. sage about healthy eating, en- Williams. While Williams was Court to intervene.