6A The Mining Journal
Thursday, February 2, 2023
State/Nation
Black history
class revised
by College
Board after
criticism
By CHEYANNE MUM-
PHREY and SHARON
LURYE
Associated Press
BATON ROUGE, La.
— The official curriculum
for a new Advanced Place-
ment course on African
American studies down-
plays some components
that drew criticism from
conservatives including
Florida Gov. Ron DeSan-
tis, who had threatened to
ban the class in his state.
In the framework re-
leased on Wednesday,
topics including Black
Lives Matter, slavery
reparations and queer life
are not part of the exam.
They are included only
on a sample list states
and school systems can
choose from for student
projects.
The course is currently
being tested at 60 schools
around the U.S., and the
official materials are in-
tended to guide its expan-
sion to hundreds of addi-
tional high schools in the
next academic year. The
College Board, which
oversees AP courses,
said developers consult-
ed with professors from
more than 200 colleges,
including several histori-
cally Black institutions.
The rejection of the
course by DeSantis, a Re-
publican, has stirred new
political debate over how
schools teach about race.
In January the state is-
sued a chart that said the
course promotes the idea
that modern American
society oppresses Black
people, other minorities
and women, includes a
chapter on “Black Queer
Studies” that the admin-
istration finds inappro-
priate, and uses articles
by critics of capitalism.
The Florida Department
of Education told the Col-
lege Board it would bar
the course unless changes
are made.
DeSantis, a possible Re-
publican presidential can-
didate in 2024, said he
was blocking the course
in Florida because it
pushes a political agenda.
“In the state of Florida,
our education standards
not only don’t prevent,
but they require teaching
Black history, all the im-
portant things. That’s part
of our core curriculum,”
DeSantis said at a news
conference last week.
“We want education and
not indoctrination.”
Mourners arrive to the funeral service for Tyre Nichols, at Mississippi Boulevard Christian
Church on Wednesday in Memphis, Tenn. Nichols was beaten by Memphis police officers, and
later died from his injuries. (AP photo)
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her State of the State ad-
dress to a joint session of the House and Senate on Jan. 25 at
the state Capitol in Lansing. (AP photo)
Michigan moves for early slot
for 2024 presidential primary
‘We’re all Tyre’
By JOEY
CAPPELLETTI
Associated Press
lican state Rep. Andrew
Beeler, of Port Huron,
said the move would “dis-
Mich- enfranchise” Republican
Mourners gather for Nichols’ funeral
LANSING
—
By AARON MORRISON
and ADRIAN SAINZ
Associated Press
skateboarder and amateur resents the Nichols family,
photographer who worked will deliver a call to ac-
making boxes at FedEx, tion. The start of the service
igan House Democrats voters and was “basically
voted Tuesday to move spitting in the face of half
the state’s presidential pri- of the state.”
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tyre made friends during morn- at Mississippi Boulevard
Nichols ‘ family and friends ing visits to Starbucks and Christian Church was de-
gathered Wednesday for a always greeted his mother layed for hours because of
funeral intended to celebrate and stepfather when he re- icy weather and travel haz-
his life three weeks after he turned home with a sunny, ards. The funeral program
mary to the fourth week
“There’s a 90% loss of
of February and become your delegates if your pri-
a part of a new group of mary is held before March
states slated to lead off the 1. So if this becomes law,
Democratic party’s pres- no Republican candidate
idential primary starting for president is going to
died following a brutal beat- “Hello, parents!”
ing by Memphis police that
has sparked a new round of their family, born 12 years
calls for police reform.
included some scenic photos
Nichols was the baby of taken by Nichols.
Sharpton gathered Nich-
after his closest siblings. He ols’ family and local activ-
next year. come to Michigan to cam-
The move, which was ap- paign,” Beeler said.
proved by the state Senate
A new presidential pri-
A group of singers and had a 4-year-old son and ists Tuesday evening at Ma-
drummers beat African in- worked hard to better him- son Temple Church of God
struments as the service self as a father, his family in Christ in Memphis. The
along party lines on Thurs- mary calendar that was
day, comes after a Demo- championed by President
cratic National Committee Joe Biden would strip
panel voted last month to Iowa’s caucus of its tra-
approve a plan that would ditional post leading off
make Michigan the fifth the primary and replace
state to hold its presiden- it with South Carolina,
tial primary in early 2024, which would open primary
and potentially, in years to voting on Feb. 3. Nevada,
began. The performers pro- said.
ceeded to the front of the Nichols grew up in Sac- the Rev. Martin Luther King
church where Tyre’s black ramento, California, and Jr. delivered his final speech
casket was draped in a large loved the San Francisco the night before he was as-
white bouquet of flowers. 49ers. He came to Memphis sassinated nearly 55 years
“We love you, Tyre,” the just before the coronavirus ago.
performers sang. The at- pandemic and got stuck. Sharpton said the family
But he was fine with it be- intends to have a “dignified
historic landmark is where
come.
New Hampshire, Georgia
tendees joined in.
Democratic leaders in and Michigan would fol-
the state have said that the low in that order with the
move will give Michigan majority of the rest of the
an increased voice in na- country holding their pri-
tional politics and drive maries on Super Tuesday
more attention to the bat- in early March.
Singers wearing all black cause he was with his moth- funeral service, not a mara-
sang, “Strength Like No er, RowVaughn Wells, and thon.”
Other,” as Nichols’ family, they were incredibly close,
the Rev. Al Sharpton and she said. He even had her it’s about justice,” Sharp-
the family’s attorney, Ben name tattooed on his arm. ton said. “People are com-
Crump listened, along with Friends at a memorial ser- ing from all over the world,
a church full of mourners. vice last week described him and we are coming because
In the three weeks since as joyful and kind, quick we’re all Tyre, now.”
Nichols’ death, five po- with a smile, often silly. Those expected to be in at-
“This man walked into a tendance include Vice Presi-
“This is not about politics;
tleground state.
“Our population is
As Democratic leaders in
Michigan moved to match
a
more reflective mix of the DNC’s plan, they also
suburban, urban and ru- looked to garner Republi-
ral constituents than just can support for the move
about any other state that in hopes of receiving a
has had this early vote,” two-thirds vote that was
said Democratic state Sen. needed in the state Senate
Jeremy Moss, the chair of for the change to take im-
the Senate’s election com- mediate effect.
lice officers were fired and
charged with murder. Their room, and everyone loved dent Kamala Harris; Tamika
specialized unit was dis- him,” said Angelina Pax- Palmer, the mother of Bre-
banded. Two more officers ton, a friend who traveled onna Taylor; and Philonise
have been suspended. Two to Memphis from California Floyd, the brother of George
Memphis Fire Department for the memorial service.
emergency medical workers Sharpton, founder and
and a lieutenant were also president of the National Louisville, Kentucky, and
fired. And more discipline Action Network, will deliv- Floyd in Minneapolis at the
could be coming. er the eulogy at the funeral hands of police sparked pro-
But Wednesday will be and Crump, a national civil tests across the nation about
about Nichols, a 29-year-old rights attorney who rep- racial injustice.
Floyd.
The deaths of Taylor in
mittee. “We’re serious
With the legislation
about putting Michigan at passing along party lines,
the forefront of presiden- it now heads to Dem-
tial politics because then ocratic Gov. Gretchen
that puts us at the forefront Whitmer’s desk and is not
of setting a national agen- scheduled to take effect
da.”
until 90 days after the end
House Republicans ar- of the session — leaving
gued Tuesday that the questions about how it
move could cost the state will be implemented for
party nearly all of its dele- 2024. The Legislature
gates in 2024 after the Re- typically adjourns in De-
publican National Com- cember but would need to
mittee set an early primary finish by Nov. 29 for the
calendar that does not in- bill to apply to the 2024
clude Michigan. Repub- presidential primary.
Biden lawyer: FBI finds no
classified docs at beach house
By ERIC TUCKER,
COLLEEN LONG and ZEKE MILLER
Associated Press
He added, “Consistent with the process in
Wilmington, the DOJ took for further re-
view some materials and handwritten notes
WASHINGTON — The Federal Bureau that appear to relate to his time as vice pres-
of Investigation searched President Joe ident.”
Biden’s vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Wednesday’s search marked the third time
Delaware, on Wednesday without finding in as many months that agents have scoured
any classified documents, the president’s Biden’s property in search of classified doc-
personal attorney said. Agents did take uments that he may have improperly held.
some handwritten notes and other materials
relating to Biden’s time as vice president for Biden’s lawyer, Bob Bauer, sought to por-
review. tray the president and his team as fully trans-
In a statement revealing the FBI search,
The attorney, Bob Bauer, said FBI agents parent and cooperative. He described the
spent three and a half hours searching the search as “planned” and “a further step in
home and that, “No documents with classi- a thorough and timely DOJ process we will
fied markings were found.”
continue to fully support and facilitate.”
Public Notice
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Behavioral and Physical Health and Aging Services Administration
Indian Health Center Visit Definition Update
State Plan Amendment Request
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) plans to submit a State Plan
Amendment (SPA) request to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to update the
definition of a visit for Indian Health Centers which will allow payment for qualifying audio-only
telemedicine visits at the all-inclusive rate (AIR).
The anticipated effective date for the Indian Health Center visit definition update SPA is the day after
the COVID-19 public health emergency period ends.
The purpose of this amendment is to update the Medicaid State Plan to modify the definition of a
qualifying visit for Indian Health Centers by removing the “face-to-face” specification. This will allow
for payment at the AIR for identified qualifying audio-only telemedicine visits.
The State Plan Amendment is expected to be budget neutral.
There is no public meeting scheduled regarding this notice. Any interested party wishing to request a
written copy of the SPA or wishing to submit comments may do so by sending an e-mail to
Physical Health and Aging Services Administration, Program Policy Division, PO Box 30479, Lansing,
MI 48909-7979 by February 28, 2023. A copy of the proposed State Plan Amendment will also be
plan-amendments.