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A Costly ‘IDEA’- Luxury Purchases and Private Jets , IDEA Public Schools Now Under Guardianship

Cover Story

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2024-03-12

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A Costly ‘IDEA’- Luxury Purchases and Private Jets , IDEA Public Schools Now Under Guardianship

“IDEA Charter Schools Under TEA Conservatorship After Financial Misconduct”

Hello SAISD Parents and San Antonio Community Members,

One of Texas’ largest charter school systems, IDEA, with 143 schools across the state, has been under investigation for improperly spending funds for a couple of years. The report proved that some top CEOs had spent money leasing jets, buying luxury items, and paying for their entire family to attend the World Series. TEA has placed the school system under a conservatorship. TEA will now monitor the spending of all 143 schools and 80,000 students in grades K-12. It’s worth noting that in the 2023-2024 school year, IDEA received $821 million in state funding. Under conservatorship, the conservators have been given the authority to facilitate needs assessments and conduct inspections to ensure that all funds are being spent on what is necessary to maintain the buildings, pay staff, and educate their students.

It’s important to note that TEA has not taken control of the IDEA Schools. Instead, TEA will require reports from those they have placed over their financial records, and if any looks suspicious, then TEA would consider taking over all their schools. IDEA has stated that it would be returning $28.7 million to the U.S. Department of Education, which it received in a grant from a prior year. This is a good start, but more is needed to make up for the millions these top CEOs have already spent. These people should be held accountable for all the money they spend. But let us wait and see what happens next.

Parents know that San Antonio has renewed the “Truancy Intervention and Prevention program” to help our schools deal with absences. So, if students have ten unexcused absences, a case worker will get involved, and you will have to deal with San Antonio Municipal Courts. If your child is in high school, it’s important to remember that all students need a 90% attendance record in each class to graduate.

Lastly, I hope that everyone has a wonderful Spring Break. If you have any questions or concerns please email me at lena.lopez@saobserver.com.

Have a Blessed Week,

Lena Lopez

Supreme Court Stops Abbott in His Tracks With Draconian Border Initiatives

Immigration

Ernest Smith

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2024-03-12

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Supreme Court Stops Abbott in His Tracks With Draconian Border Initiatives

This development serves as a clear rebuke to Governor Greg Abbott’s draconian border initiatives, the Supreme Court, under the watch of Justice Samuel Alito, has effectively put a pause on Texas’ controversial Senate Bill 4, a piece of legislation that has sparked widespread concern and criticism for its harsh stance on immigrant deportation. This intervention by Justice Alito, a conservative figure, extends a critical lifeline until March 18, underscoring the legal and moral complexities surrounding Texas’ aggressive immigration enforcement measures.

The backdrop to this judicial intervention is Senate Bill 4 (S.B. 4), a law passed during a special legislative session in November, which would have granted local and state law enforcement sweeping powers to arrest, detain, and deport individuals suspected of entering Texas illegally. Its implementation was slated to begin on March 5, but in a decisive move, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas granted a preliminary injunction on March 4, effectively halting the law’s enforcement. This came at a politically charged moment, coinciding with visits from President Joe Biden and his likely Republican rival, Donald Trump, to border towns for discussions on border security.

Governor Abbott’s immediate response to appeal the decision, framed as a stand against what he perceives as “President Biden’s border crisis,” reveals a disturbing disregard for the intricate legal and human rights issues at play. The ruling by Judge David Ezra, which favored multiple civil rights groups challenging the law, eloquently dismantles the notion that Texas is under “invasion” and therefore justified in circumventing federal immigration authority. Judge Ezra’s 114-page ruling is a testament to the constitutionally grounded principle that no state can unilaterally nullify federal law, a concept that federal courts have upheld since the Civil War era.

Despite the swift appeal by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the temporary reprieve granted by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Supreme Court’s intervention sends a powerful message. It not only highlights the questionable legality of S.B. 4 but also illuminates the broader implications for civil liberties and racial justice. Civil rights groups and advocates have rightly condemned S.B. 4 as an extreme anti-immigrant measure, warning of its potential to exacerbate racial profiling and over-policing, particularly against Black and brown communities.

The temporary stay against S.B. 4 represents not just a procedural delay but a moment of profound relief for countless individuals and families across Texas. It signifies a day won against the threat of unjust detention and deportation, against the fear of being targeted for one’s appearance or origin. As we await the Fifth Circuit’s hearing on April 3, we must continue to challenge and resist measures like S.B. 4 that threaten the fabric of our communities and the principles of justice and equality that should define our society. Governor Abbott’s attempts to enforce such a divisive and unconstitutional law are not only a misguided effort to assert state power over federal immigration policy but also a stark reminder of the need for vigilant defense of civil rights and human dignity in the face of political opportunism and xenophobia.

Muhammad Ali is Heading to the WWE Hall of Fame

History
News

Ernest Smith

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2024-03-12

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Muhammad Ali is Heading to the WWE Hall of Fame

Muhammad Ali will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024, Variety reported on Monday.

The ceremony is scheduled for April 5 in Philadelphia during WrestleMania 40 weekend.

Ali, who died in 2016 at the age of 74, was the special guest referee in the main event of the first WrestleMania, a tag-team showdown featuring Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff. During his career, Ali won a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics and went on to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion, beating some of boxing’s best in Sonny Liston, Ken Norton, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman.

S.A. SNCC Organized W/ Castro, Sutton, Black And More

Ernest Smith

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2024-03-12

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S.A. SNCC Organized W/ Castro, Sutton, Black And More

The Eastside of San Antonio’s Role in Civil Rights and Community Empowerment, Some Recollections from the Past

At an early age I was beginning to question the lies taught. In high school, in 1967, at Phyllis Wheatley High School, I was one of the leaders of a boycott of the school cafeteria because of an unsanitary kitchen. This was one of his first protests and after high school, as a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) I helped to lead a second protest at Hawthorne Middle School in 1969 after the schools principle was segregating Black and Mexican American students in the lunch line. SNCC members were arrested, but called for a boycott of the school. It was successful, as hundreds of parents kept their children at home that week. Many of these students were from the ghettos of the Carson Homes and the Sutton Homes. I was one of those arrested in the protest.

Before becoming a public school teacher and later a professor, Reverend Claude Black led the civil rights struggle in San Antonio for many years. Reverend Black was the pastor of Mt. Zion First Baptist Church who supported San Antonio SNCC in later years. He was an inspiration to many including me. I eventually became a member of Mt. Zion First Baptist Church. It is important to note that the FBI spied on Reverend Black and his protest against the cancellation of a speaking engagement by the City of San Antonio City Council of renowned activist Langston Hughes and continued illegal spying for years under a racist FBI director.

In 1976, I became the coordinator for SNCC and this eventually resulted SNCC becoming the last original Black Panther Party Chapter and SNCC chapter in America. The organization, when it was a part of SNCC, developed survival programs modeled after the original Black Panther Party which included a free breakfast program for school children, which was eventually adopted by the San Antonio school district. The program also included free sickle cell anemia testing, free political education classes, free legal help, and others. Also, SNCC organized of all of the Black Student Unions at San Antonio colleges and universities. The free breakfast program was conducted on the East Side of San Antonio at Antioch Baptist Church. The program involved feeding elementary and middle school students and providing transportation to school. Unfortunately, the program was sabotaged by authorities and sell outs that wanted to create their own program with federal funds.

The SNCC-Panther organization, as it later became known, collected thousands of signatures demanding the freedom of Angela Davis in 1972. At the rally to free Angela Davis, Reverend Claude Black was on stage as was other signers of the petition. Other signers included Rosie Castro, John Inman, Franklin Garcia, State Representative G.J. Sutton, and others. SNCC political education classes (1972-1976) were held on Burnet Street at the Ella Austin Community Center. The building was originally a Black orphanage. I worked at the Ella Austin Center as a community organizer with Charles Middleton, John Allen, and Paul Battle.

Later in life, I spoke out again the Israeli invasion of Lebanon with former CIA agent John Stockwell (author of In Search of Enemies), at the University of Texas at Austin in opposition to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. After the local SNCC-Panther chapter dissolved in 1976, former members went on to help organize Organizations United for Eastside Development (OUED), and during the MLK state holiday struggle a new group was formed called Frontline 2000. Frontline 2000 was the organization that succeeded in getting the state holiday passed after years of protests by other organizations.

‘Showtime at Post 828’

Local

Ernest Smith

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2024-03-12

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Fred Brock Post 828 hosts ‘Showtime at Post 828’

Fred Brock American Legion Post No. 828 hosted its first quarterly variety show dubbed “Showtime at Post 828” at the Post’s event center on the East Side.

The show was created to provide an opportunity for veterans and locals (professionals and amateurs) to perform and win cash prizes.

According to its creator, Post Commander Burrell Parmer, the event augments the Non-commissioned Officer (NCO) Appreciation Nights which are held on the first Friday of each month.

“As dues were increased over the past two years, the Post Executive Committee promised to ensure our members receive an extra benefit,” said Parmer. “In keeping with that promise, Showtime at Post 828 was created to be a no-cost event, meaning there is no fee to attend or enter the competition.”

Showtimes are on the first Fridays in the months of March, June, and September with finals on the first Friday of December.

“The Post provides cash prizes to the top two winners of the first three shows with those winners advancing to the finals in December,” said Parmer. “The top six winners will compete in the finals in December for additional cash prizes and will be required to perform twice.”

Showtime at Post 828 is an adult venue with the audience selecting the winners by round of applause. Attendees and competitors must be 21 years of age or older.

Congratulations to Dana Dyer, of San Antonio, who won $300 for first place and Byrd Haze, of Chicago, who placed second and received $200.

The next Showtime at Post 828 will be Friday, June 7, 2024. A special thanks to Lewis Funeral Home for sponsoring the event.
To compete in the June show, visit the Post at 3415 Martin Luther King Dr., San Antonio, Texas, on Monday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday between 4 p.m. and midnight.

The next NCO Appreciation Night will be held Friday, April 5, featuring free live entertainment from the Justice Band at 7 pm.

Article By: Tesha Leggett, Unit 828 Auxiliary

Angel Reese Comments On Her ‘Status’ To Talk About Why She Walked Away From LSU – South Carolina Skirmish

News
Sports

Ernest Smith

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2024-03-12

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Angel Reese Comments On Her ‘Status’ To Talk About Why She Walked Away From LSU – South Carolina Skirmish

In the aftermath of LSU’s skirmish with South Carolina, Angel Reese provided an explanation on why she wasn’t involved and walked away.

https://twitter.com/Reese10Angel/status/1767008674692608391

In case you missed it, the women’s basketball SEC championship was a lot to unpack. The matchup, a highly anticipated basketball tug-of-war, was living up to the hype until an on-court dust-up threatened to derail the whole game. Afterward, multiple players were ejected, and that seemingly left everyone with a lot of feelings.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley apologized for her team’s involvement. However, LSU’s Kim Mulkey and Angel Reese delivered a much different message, seemingly doubling down and daring South Carolina — and anyone else for that matter — to come at them. Reese also took to X (formerly Twitter) to share that her status and a rolled ankle were the reasons she was not involved in the incident, and then she voiced her support for LSU.

By: Meghan L. Hall

Beyoncé – “The Black Cowboy Was Originally Called A ‘Cowhand’”

Ernest Smith

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2024-03-12

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Beyoncé – “The Black Cowboy Was Originally Called A ‘Cowhand’”

“Beyonce’s Highly Anticipated Country Album To Be Released Later This Month”

This month marks the soon to be release of American singer Beyonce’s anticipated eighth studio album Renaissance: Act II. Scheduled to be released on March 29th, the album has been preceded by two singles released during Super Bowl LVIII: “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em”. Later that month, she became the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Act II is part of a trilogy project beginning with Act I, released on July 29th, 2022 and largely centered around house and dance music. Act II however is rooted primarily in country music.

Beyonce however is not a complete stranger to country music. The 32- time Grammy winner and Houston native famously featured a country-styled song “Daddy Lessons” on her 2016 magnum opus Lemonade. She famously performed the song at the 50th Annual Country Music Association Awards with country rock female trio The Chicks. Their performance was not without controversy.

Writer Francesa Royster, in her 2022 article for The Oxford American, “How to Be an Outlaw: Beyoncé’s Daddy Lessons”, writes, “Many country music fans and commentators took issue with Beyoncé’s and the Chicks’ performance at the CMAs, some alluding to Beyoncé’s vocal support of Black Lives Matter and the Chicks’ criticism of George W. Bush during his 2003 invasion of Iraq… ‘Daddy Lessons’ thus became a lightning rod for public arguments about the politics of race, genre crossover, gender, and country music, soon to be joined by Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” in 2019.”

The controversy did not stop there. The Recording Academy, the governing body that hosts the annual Grammy Awards, allegedly rejected “Daddy Lessons” for submission into the country music category during the 2017 Grammy Awards ceremony.
In 2021, Beyonce was featured in the August issue of Harper’s Bazaar magazine. In it, she debuted her famous “Ivy Park Rodeo” clothing collection, heavily inspired by her growing up in Houston, Texas. In a statement to the magazine, the singer says, “I grew up going to the Houston rodeo every year. It was this amazing diverse and multicultural experience where there was something for every member of the family, including great performances, Houston-style fried Snickers, and fried turkey legs.”

She went on to say the inspiration also came from American Black Cowboy Culture. “One of my inspirations came from the overlooked history of the American Black cowboy. Many of them were originally called cowhands, who experienced great discrimination and were often forced to work with the worst, most temperamental horses. They took their talents and formed the Soul Circuit. Through time, these Black rodeos showcased incredible performers and helped us reclaim our place in western history and culture.”

In her reclamation of the Black presence in country music, Beyonce herself has become something of a lightning rod of public discourse about the relation between race, history, and music. Much is to be seen if the highly anticipated album will live up to the hype upon its release later this month.

Trump Doubles Down On Gutting SS And Medicare

News

Ernest Smith

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2024-03-12

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Trump Doubles Down On Gutting SS And Medicare

Donald Trump Doubles Down on His Yearslong Push To Gut Social Security and Medicare

In response to Donald Trump saying “there is a lot you can do… in terms of cutting” Social Security and Medicare, DNC Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd released the following statement:

“If you’re surprised by Donald Trump once again calling to cut Social Security and Medicare, you haven’t been paying attention:

Trump has a long record of pushing to gut these critical earned benefits for millions of Americans, including proposing cuts every single year he was in office. Trump and MAGA Republicans keep running on an unpopular platform that is threatening the pocketbooks of hardworking Americans – it’s an extreme, losing agenda that voters are going to reject once again when they head to the ballot box this November.”

UT-Austin Reverts To Requiring Standardized Test Scores For Admissions

Education

Ernest Smith

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2024-03-12

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UT-Austin Reverts To Requiring Standardized Test Scores For Admissions

The University of Texas at Austin will once again require applicants to submit standardized test scores, beginning with applications to enroll in the fall of 2025.

The university suspended the testing requirement in 2020 because of limited access to testing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Critics of testing requirements have said they give students from affluent families an unfair advantage because they can access test prep to improve their scores. Still, a growing number of universities are reversing their test-optional admission policies, including Brown, Yale, Dartmouth and Georgetown.

In explaining the decision to reinstate testing requirements, UT-Austin president Jay Hartzell said ACT and SAT test scores help identify how students will fare in their first semester of college and which students would benefit from extra help.

“Our experience during the test-optional period reinforced that standardized testing is a valuable tool for deciding who is admitted and making sure those students are placed in majors that are the best fit,” Hartzell said in a statement Monday.

Hartzell told the New York Times that the standardized test scores would be particularly relevant when placing students in more challenging courses of study, such as engineering and business.

Akil Bello, a senior director of advocacy and advancement at FairTest, an advocacy group that tracks testing policies at universities across the country, said he was skeptical of the university’s intent to use ACT and SAT test scores to determine the majors students are allowed to pursue.

“It doesn’t align with everything I know about the design of the test, the purpose of the test and the information that it gives,” Bello said. “To be using the SATs to determine what major you can qualify for is as valid as using performance in Mario Kart.”

UT-Austin applicants in the top 6% of their high school class are granted automatic admission every year. The test scores for these applicants, who represent about three in four students who are admitted into the university, will not play a role in their acceptance. Test scores will be a part of the review process for the remaining applicants.

UT-Austin saw a record high of about 73,000 applicants last year. About 90% or more of those applicants took a standardized exam, according to College Board data shared with UT-Austin.

The university also announced Monday that for the first time it will have an early action process that will allow applicants for the fall 2025 semester to apply by Oct. 15 to get an earlier, nonbinding decision about their application.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s Oscar Win Reduces Audience to Tears: ‘I Thank You for Seeing Me’

Entertainment

Ernest Smith

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2024-03-12

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Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s Oscar Win Reduces Audience to Tears: ‘I Thank You for Seeing Me’

The star won her first Oscar for her role in ‘The Holdovers’

Da’Vine Joy Randolph completed her award season sweep with a triumph!

The star, 37, won at the 2024 Oscars on Sunday, taking home Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Holdovers. The award was presented by five of the category’s past winners: Regina King, Jamie Lee Curtis, Rita Moreno, Lupita Nyong’o and Mary Steenburgen.

“God is so good,” Randolph, already in tears, began her speech.

“I didn’t think I was supposed to be doing this as a career,” she said. “I started off as a singer. And my mother said to me, ‘Go across that street to that theatre department. There’s something for you there.’ And I thank my mother for doing that.”

She continued, “I thank you to all the people who have stepped in my path and been there for me, who have ushered me and guided me. I am so grateful to all you beautiful people out here. For so long, I’ve always wanted to be different, and now I realize I just need to be myself.”

The Only Murders in the Building star, 37, continued, “I thank you for seeing me.”

“IDEA Charter Schools Under TEA Conservatorship After Financial Misconduct”

The Eastside of San Antonio’s Role in Civil Rights and Community Empowerment, Some Recollections from the Past

Fred Brock Post 828 hosts ‘Showtime at Post 828’

Article By: Tesha Leggett, Unit 828 Auxiliary

By: Meghan L. Hall

“Beyonce’s Highly Anticipated Country Album To Be Released Later This Month”

Donald Trump Doubles Down on His Yearslong Push To Gut Social Security and Medicare

The star won her first Oscar for her role in ‘The Holdovers’

By: Brendan Le and Benjamin VanHoose