The Monroe City Schools is the only local government that prides itself on short meetings and limited public input. It has erected barriers to sidestep the open meetings laws and control public input. That’s the meat of a court trial…
Category: Editorial
School starts earlier, it’s now ten months instead of nine
Does school seem to start earlier each year and gobble up the traditional three-month summer break? If you say yes, it’s because it’s been over 30 years since teachers and students actually enjoyed a three-month summer break. For many local…
Rats in Baltimore, open ditches and trash in Monroe
The media is buzzing about the presence of rats and debris in the City of Baltimore, the part that tourist don’t see. Recently, the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education met in Baltimore. It was housed in the convention complex…
New Black business directory will reflect changing trends
My, how the times are changing, especially with respect for business among minorities. The Free Press staff is assembling a Black Business Directory for publication later this year. We’ve been making phone calls, knocking on doors and compiling names, addresses…
We read inmate mail regularly; some deserve consideration
Daily, we receive mail from inmates at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, the Ouachita Parish Correctional Center and other prisons. For years, we’ve read well-written pleadings from young men who have for one reason or another fallen between the cracks…
We need our best thinkers to represent District 16
The State Representative seat for District 16 has been vacated; we will need our best thinkers to step up to fill that seat. Representative Katrina Jackson has announced that she will not seek re-election to the District 16 seat, but…
Years ago, many local youth spent the 4th of July in jail
As we celebrate the 4th of July, we celebrate freedoms attained, but we also celebrate freedoms not yet attained. On July 4, 1970, a group of nearly 200 young people gathered to attend an “Honor America” celebration at the Monroe…