No Struggle, No Progress
No Struggle, No Progress
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If there was a honeymoon period between Mayor Friday Ellis and members of the Monroe City Council before they began to butt heads, it was a brief one. At Tuesday night's September 10, 2024 regular council meeting, the issue of vetoes and repeals took center stage as two ordinances were introduced. One ordinance sought to repeal Ordinance No. 12,225, which relates to purchasing and bidding procedures, and the other was Ordinance No. 12,220, which concerns the special tax election. District 4 Councilman Rodney McFarland and District 5 Councilman...
Disclaimer: These are Pastor Ike Byrd's comments, not of the Monroe Dispatch. The words, "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remain as relevant today as ever. His thoughts emphasize that those who are trapped within the confines of their own minds will never experience true freedom. When your mind is enslaved, you become your own greatest obstacle to liberation. There has been significant discussion among Monroe citizens following the city council's decision to reject the appointment of...
For the second time in two months, Secret Service agents have had to intervene in an incident to protect the life of Donald Trump. The latest incident occurred Sunday (Sept. 15, 2024) at Trump's Florida Golf Course where an armed white male allegedly pointed an AK-style weapon where Trump was golfing. Quick action by federal agents who were protecting Trump prevented what may have been an assassination's attempt, as shots were fired at the individual. As of press time, the individual identified as Ryan Wesley Routh is being held on federal gun...
The Monroe/Ouachita Chapter #6068B 2024 Election of Officers Nominating Committee Elected Wednesday, September 25, 2024, Nominating Committee Presents Report & Nominations Accepted from the Floor Thursday, October 24, 2024; All candidates must have joined by 5/1/2024 & in good standing. Election Supervisory Committee Elected by General Body Benoit Community Center 1700 Oaklawn Dr., Monroe, LA 6:00 p.m. November 16, 2024 – Election of Officers – ELECTRONICALLY Electronic Ballot Distributed by National via email & text. Voting Times: 10 a.m. to...
There are some places in society where respect is not only expected, but demanded when one is present. There is the courtroom, the schoolroom, a house of worship and the place where we all will one day go...the cemetery. Those places are ingrained in our psyche to maintain a modem of decorum because that's the way a society conducts itself where its members congregate. We learn that when we are young and it is something that is passed down through the generations. So, what happened when Donald Trump and his entourage of campaign workers and...
The House Speaker of the Louisiana Legislative body was in Monroe on August 26,2024, to address citizens' concerns about what the legislature's goals are in the coming years. House Speaker Phillip DDeVillier's visit to Monroe comes on the heels of Gov. Jeff Landry, who gave his state of the state address on the status of Louisiana since he became governor. As DeVillier travels from parish to parish across Louisiana, the concerns that he hears are the same. While saying that there are three...
Come see us for Voter Awareness on Tuesday September 17, 2024, at 5 until 6:30 pm at Ouachita Parish Main Library Stubbs Ave. and N. 18th Street in Monroe LA. Topics of discussion Last Days to Register to Vote; Early Voting Days; Requesting a mail ballot and how to properly complete and return; Redistricting and how it affects your elected officials. Geauxvote App or WWW.GEAUXVOTE.com More info 318.327.1436...
City of Monroe District 5 Councilman Verbon Muhammad Sr. will hold his second listening meeting on Thursday, August 23, 2024, at the Henrietta Johnson Community Center, located at 2800 Berg Jones Lane in Monroe, LA. The meeting will provide district updates on current and future city projects, with public works and transit personnel in attendance. Councilman Muhammad emphasizes that "Your Tax Dollars Matter!" Refreshments will be served....
Donald Trump is an individual who marches to the beat of his own drum, even if it is just in his head. He is a "my way or the highway" kind of person who is always telling himself that his way is the best way. Even as his presidential campaign is stuck in neutral. If one listens to him at one of his rallies he is up bigly in the polls, he is drawing ten times the crowds that Vice President Kamala Harris has and he is going to make America great again. Never mind that he doesn't say how he will make America great again, but if one keeps playing...
The Monroe City Council passed a set of repeal ordinances for final adoption at its regular Tuesday, August 13, 2024 meeting, fulfilling a promise made by council members from Districts 3, 4, and 5. Newly elected District 4 Councilman Bishop Rodney McFarland and District 5 Councilman Verbon Muhammad, along with veteran District 3 Council Chairwoman Juanita Woods, stood firmly as they voted to repeal several ordinances passed by previous councils. The repealed ordinances included Ordinance No. 12,219, which referred to a video bingo tax rededica...
Donald Trump is an individual who marches to the beat of his own drum, even if it is just in his head. He is a "my way or the highway" kind of person who is always telling himself that his way is the best way. Even as his presidential campaign is stuck in neutral. If one listens to him at one of his rallies he is up bigly in the polls, he is drawing ten times the crowds that Vice President Kamala Harris has and he is going to make America great again. Never mind that he doesn't say how he will make America great again, but if one keeps playing...
Republican Vice-Presidential candidate J. D. Vance of Ohio should have been taking notes when Mike Pence was Donald Trump's Vice President. When Pence agreed to become Trump's running mate, did he do it for love of country while ignoring the fact that the man he was willing to govern with, was a man who questioned the birthright of the nation's first Black president? Or did he forget the meaning of his so-called "family values" platform, as he watched Trump say all manner of things about Rafael "Ted" Cruz's wife and father back in 2015? Plus...
If Donald Trump thought that by appearing at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention would be his ticket to securing a big turnout among Black voters, he is sadly mistaken. Why Trump thinks that he is a "hit" with Black voters defies wisdom, notwithstanding the support from Tim Scott who says that he "loves" Trump, along with other Black conservatives who have jumped on the MAGA wagon, Trump is like "Casey at the bat". And we know what happened to "Mighty" Casey. Google that poem. While at the NABJ convention, Trump showed...
District 4 Councilman Rodney McFarland will host "Coffee, Juice, and Donuts" on Monday, August 12, 2024, 9:00 - 10:30 AM at the Children's Museum, located at 325 Walnut St in Monroe, LA....
Week 5 October 4, 2024 General Trass 12, Bastrop 6 Ouachita Parish 51, Franklin Parish 47 Wossman 20, Carroll 15 Ouachita Christian 45, Rayville 8 St. Frederick 50, St. Mary's 0 Oak Grove 57, Delhi Charter 12 Tioga 65, Jena 26 Union Parish 49, Homer 14 D'Arbonne Woods 38, Green Oaks 26 Ferriday 32, Beekman Charter 6 Jonesboro-Hodge 16, Arcadia 14 Mangham 56, Madison 18 Vidalia 54, Delhi 40 Neville 17, Sterlington 10 West Monroe 50, Scotlandville 0 West Ouachita 55, Caldwell Parish 13...
Louisiana Senator John Kennedy (no relation) has certainly made a name for himself by fully embracing his conservative credentials during his tenure in Congress. While he differs greatly from the other famous Kennedys, he has established himself as a "good old boy" with a quick wit that leaves some questioning his ultimate objectives. Kennedy is a highly educated man, which makes his political statements all the more puzzling. A recent example is his reference to Vice President Kamala Harris as a "ding-dong" in an interview. Kennedy spoke with...
As the election of the next president of the United States nears, more attention is being paid to presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Republican nominee Donald Trump is looking for ways to become relevant now that Harris has taken center stage. Not making light of the attempt on Trump's life, but the truth of the matter is that Trump "wasn't protected" by God, it just was not Trump's time to die. Simple as that. Was Trump in the right place "at the wrong time" or vice versus will not change the fact that the bullet missed him and...
Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama threw their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid for the White House on Friday. The Harris campaign announced the endorsement with a video showing the vice president on a phone call with the Obamas. In the video, Michelle Obama said she is proud of Harris and that this election will be “historic,” before the former president shared they were endorsing her. “We called to say, Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through...
Louisiana's governor, Jeff Landry, continues to justify placing the Ten Commandments inside all public schools, including universities, despite a legal challenge aimed at halting the program. Meanwhile, Landry attended the Republican Convention, where Donald Trump was officially nominated, as the party believed they were prepared to face President Biden. However, Landry and other Republicans are now aware that they are not up against Hillary Clinton this time but rather Kamala Harris. At the convention, Landry addressed the attempted...
And then there was one. It has been a bad couple of days for Donald Trump and Republicans who just knew that they had the election all sown up. Despite coming off of a lackluster convention that had more showmanship than subject, Republicans were eagerly waiting for the Democrats to hold their convention while they would continue to bash President Biden relentlessly over his age and mental faculties. Funny, how you can want something so bad thinking that you have it in your grasp, and presto, it slips right through your fingers. President...
Did Donald Trump have a "come to Jesus" moment Saturday when he narrowly missed death by centimeters as a bullet grazed his right ear. This reporter does not make light of what happened at Trump's campaign rally in Pennsylvania, because though Trump survived, an innocent victim lost his life. Much will be said about the shooter as more information becomes available. It is moments like these that remind us that life is a fleeting entity and can end in an instant. No one was probably thinking that a campaign rally would end without Trump stating...
Imagine if you're on a football team and the championship is at stake. Even though it is a back/forth game, victory can still be yours if you play hard (not conservative) and aggressive. That's exactly what Democrats need to do if they want to win by rallying around their star player who happens to be President Joe Biden. Instead of going on offense as in football, they are letting the defense (Republicans) dictate how the game is being played by putting up the idea that Biden is finished as a leader. The problem with Democrats in the race for...
GOHSEP Deputy Director is coming to Monroe LA to discuss the Raccoon Bayou Flood Control Project. For 3 decades Raccoon Bayou has flooded the Town of Richwood and Tanglewood residents’ homes. Don’t Miss this important Public Meeting: Neal Fudge, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Deputy Director will provide information concerning the Raccoon Bayou Flood Control Project on Wednesday July 10, 2024 at 5:30pm at City of Monroe Public Safety Center 1810 Martin Luther King Dr/Hwy 165 South in Monroe LA. Enough sufferin...
The debate between President Joe Biden and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is over. It should be the last one. Did the voters learn anything new or otherwise. There has never been a debate between presidential contenders (to my recollection) before they became their party's official nominees. It was not a "classic" debate by any stretch of the imagination, because both President Joe Biden and Donald Trump stuck to their scripts. The only good thing about the debate was the rule where the other candidate's mic would be...
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry is about to get the fight that he says he is ready for. When Landry signed a law that would require the Ten Commandments to be posted in public school and university classrooms, he knew that there would be opposition. Never mind the fact that court rulings have gone against such measures citing the separation of church and state against establishing a "national" religion. Conservatives like Landry still persist in having it their way. The bill that Landry signed into law would require (demand is a better word) tha...
Former president Donald Trump paid a visit to New Orleans to raise money on the campaign trail, as he rubbed elbows with some conservative elites. You didn't think that Trump was going to hang around people who don't have money, did you? Though Trump will have rallies in the heat where his supporters are dropping like flies from the heat, the money that was raised for him on this particular trip was from a wealthy uptown donor. On hand to the perspective Republican presidential nominee at the "Louie” (Louis Armstrong Int'l Airport) were Gov. J...
The old saying "age is just a number" is really getting a closer look as we head to the fall presidential election. We have also heard the word "old" more times than you can "shake a stick at" simply because two old men are running for one of the most powerful governmental positions on Earth. Donald Trump, 78 and President Joe Biden, 81 are two old men, make no mistake about it. Both have thinning hair, as Trump wouldn't want to be seen on a rainy or windy day. The bald spot on Biden's head is something that you can't miss. Both men are not...
It was a full house in council chambers June 11, 2024, as members of the current Monroe City Council met on Tuesday evening to pass agenda items before the start of the next council. And that was the focus of the majority of the citizens who spoke before council members on "why the rush" to pass items that they knew were controversial in nature. There were two items in particular that raised the were ire of those who spoke before council members was the special tax measure to be placed on the...
It looks as though Florida Congressman Byron Donalds has ruined his chances of becoming vice president of the United States. Especially if Black people have anything to do with it, or becoming the next Barack Obama. Donalds, the young Black Republican legislator in Congress has caused quite a stir around the nation saying that Black marriages "were better" during the era of Jim Crow and Black people in general during a period in American history that denied basic rights to native born Americans. Make no mistake, that Donald's as a Black man is...
The Louisiana Legislature has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to infrastructure projects and maintaining teacher pay in the state budget plan that goes into effect on July 1, 2024. Lawmakers also backed LA Governor Jeff Landry’s tough-on-crime agenda with funding for adult prisons, juvenile justice services, and a state police expansion. Teachers will receive a $2,000 one-time payment, and school support staff will get a $1,000 stipend next school year, totaling $199 million. Lawmakers decided against a permanent raise due to a p...
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has signed a number of bills into law, getting most of what he wanted, but not everything. This is significant for the citizens of Louisiana, despite having a Republican-led government. One bill that hasn't been made public to this reporter is the one sponsored by Mike Johnson (R-Pineville, not that M.J.), which will shield the whereabouts of the First family when they are in public. The bill was initially intended to protect the information of public employees. However, as often happens in the last days of legisl...
Another one has fallen in line or as they say, kissed the ring. It was an unexpected move, as the time that it took to make the move was perhaps "showmanship", but one to stay relevant. Nikki Haley, who wanted to do what Hillary Clinton couldn't, recently announced to the world that she was going to vote for Donald Trump in November. Seriously? Folks, that is not news, something like the old "dog bites man" bit. If Haley had said that she is not voting for Trump, that would have been news showing that she had some "spunk", the kind that she...
People are talking about Donald Trump and his "fitness" to serve as president when he suddenly appeared to "freeze" when he stopped talking for about 30 seconds while speaking to members of National Rifle Association (NRA) over the weekend. Some reports have said that Trump's "freeze" was more than 30 seconds and at times, his speech was incoherent. The Biden campaign naturally asserted that the episode clearly showed that Trump is unfit to serve as president. The full video clip showed the ex-president speaking and in the next second didn't...
When it seemed that African American voters had been awarded a second majority congressional voting district, this reporter said that the war was not over, it was only beginning. A lawsuit recently filed by non-African voters was filed against a map outlining the new Black district was rejected by a three federal judge panel citing/agreeing with the group that filed the lawsuit that the map amounted to "constitutional racial gerrymandering" that discriminated against white voters who are represented in Congress by Garrett Graves. Now it seems...
The alleged campaign violations involving Donald Trump are taking a toll on the former president as some of his Republican allies in Congress come to bat for him. They are probably doing this because there are no mass protests at the courthouse where Trump faces the real possibility of going to jail. This is because the prosecutor's star witness, Michael Cohen, is "spilling the beans" on his former boss, essentially backing up what Trump's former acquaintances said they did when arranging what has been called hush money to Stormy Daniels to...
Tuesday March 7 was a day in Donald Trump's life that he would not like to live over. Tuesday was the day that Stephanie Clifford otherwise known to the world as Stormy Daniels testified in the hush money trial where Trump is accused of paying Clifford/Daniels thousands of dollars for her to keep quiet over an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. The encounter happened back in 2006, long before Trump entered into politics because he was on top of the world as a businessman and television star on his "Apprentice" show. As the 2016 presidential...
A resounding message was sent on Saturday April 27, 2024 as Verbon Muhammad, Sr captured 65% of the early vote and maintained 65% on Election Day to win the runoff race for Monroe City Council District 5. The victory revitalized South Monroe's hope and has formed solid leadership for the new city council that will take office in July 2024. Verbon said, "our effort was grassroots where we knocked on doors, and met as many people as we could. I am thankful to Almighty God for an opportunity to...
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry continues his crusade to make it mandatory for athletes to be present during the presentation of the national anthem at the start of athletic activities, not just in Louisiana but across the nation. The Lady Tigers of the LSU women's basketball team were not present during the playing of the anthem prior to their Iowa Elite 8 matchup, which drew the ire of Landry. Though Kim Mulkey's team was doing what it had done on previous occasions, going through their pre-game rituals, this particular instance prompted Landry to...
By Eddie D. Gillis Donald Trump is at a huge disadvantage in the current state of the 2024 presidential race. While President Joe Biden is celebrating a huge win in Congress with aid going to Ukraine, and cracking jokes at the White House Correspondents Dinner, an annual event in Washington, Trump is looking at a jury of his peers who will decide if he is guilty of violating campaign laws. Trump probably believed that he would never face Stormy Daniels in a courtroom over money that he had paid to two women that he had affairs with before he...
The race for the remaining Monroe City Council District 5 seat is reaching its climax in a contest that will profoundly influence the city's future. Incumbent Councilwoman Kema Dawson is facing community activist Verbon Muhammad, a seasoned city council observer who has voiced his concerns on many District 5 issues. Dawson failed to secure the required 50% plus 1 in the primary, with Muhammad securing second place, forcing a runoff. Muhammad's potential success in the runoff could signal to the...
Monroe City Council District 5 Runoff Elections Matter Please vote on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at your local precinct. Your vote matters in ALL elections, not just the Presidential Elections. Why vote on Saturday, April 27th? We need elected officials who will work with us to address and support your concerns and your local and state projects. Again, we thank you for allowing us to serve you in Baton Rouge. As your elected officials, we represent you, and we are your voice. We must listen and respect your concerns. When we have a difference of...
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA has an opportunity to change how historians will write about him in history. Johnson just had the opportunity to do what past House Speakers like John Boehner, Paul Ryan and even Kevin McCarthy couldn't do, that is stand in the face of those far-right-over-the-cliff Republicans who will always keep "party first" in their ideology. Make no mistake about it, Johnson is as conservative as they come, but even he knows that once you take the plunge over the cliff, there is no coming back. Over the weekend, Johnson...
With 4 of the 5 seats on the Monroe City Council decided, the District 5 seat is currently in a runoff, and Verbon Muhammad is working hard to secure votes. "I will return this seat back to the hard-working residents of District 5 and I will fight for your tax dollars. Our tax dollars have gone downtown, uptown, and across town. Now is the time for your tax dollars to work for you in your part of town," Muhammad stated. Muhammad recently fed over 300 people on Saturday, April 13, and another...
Runoff Elections Matters Please vote on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at your local precinct. Your vote matters in ALL elections, not just the Presidential Elections. Why vote on Saturday, April 27th? We need elected officials who will work with us to address and support your concerns and your local and state projects. Again, we thank you for allowing us to serve you in Baton Rouge. As your elected officials, we represent you, and we are your voice. We must listen and respect your concerns. When we have a difference of opinion about certain ideas,...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Monday, April 15, 2024 is a day that will go down in infamy in the history of a young United States of America when a former president formally went on trial for a criminal offense in a real courtroom. The record will show that what happened in a New York City courthouse was not part of a reality television show, nor was it a dramatic depiction of an incident involving another famous figure like Al Capone who was accused of many crimes, but was never convicted, except for tax ev...
The regular Louisiana State Legislative session began on Monday, March 11, 2024, and citizens are urged to pray for guidance as lawmakers debate and vote on bills. Several "Get Tough on Crime" bills are under consideration that will impact youth, and these bills are expected to pass into law. Parents are urged to pay close attention to these bills as they could directly affect their children. It is important to discuss these new laws with your children and ensure they understand the need to...
Former city councilman Kenneth Wilson supports Verbon Muhammad for City Council District 5. Having known Verbon since their childhood in Newtown and during their time at Hill's Barbeque, Kenneth recognizes Verbon as a strong community leader. Kenneth urges others to join him in endorsing Verbon Muhammad #45 for Monroe City Council by voting early this Saturday, April 13 - April 20, 2024....
Donald Trump by all means is not a farmer. He is a little too elite for that. Yes, conservatives don't want to admit it, but just from the results of his fundraiser recently held at his Florida home, he was hanging out with the "fat cats" of wealth. Trump reportedly raised $50 million which will aid him in his fight just to stay out of jail, didn't get all of that much money in one night from the poor people. If that had been someone like Barack Obama doing the same for President Joe Biden, conservatives would have been howling about...
Monroe City Council District 5 early voting is April 13-20 (excluding Sunday, April 14) from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Early voting locations Registrar of Voters Community Room 1650 DeSiard St. Monroe LA Election Vote Saturday April 27, 2024 - Municipal General Election, polls are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m....
By Eddie D. Gillis Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry continues his crusade to make it mandatory for athletes to be present during the presentation of the National Anthem at the start of athletic activities. Not just in Louisiana but across the nation. The Lady Tigers of the LSU women's basketball team was not present during the playing of the anthem prior to their Iowa Elite 8 matchup, which drew the ire of Landry. Though Kim Mulkey's team was doing what it had done on previous times going through their pre-game rituals, this particular time caused...
