facing south/28 may 2004

[Michael Hoover <hooverm@xxxxxxxxxx>]

F A C I N G   S O U T H
A progressive Southern news report
May 28, 2004 * Issue 81
Fingers
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INSTITUTE INDEX * America, Idle? (the sequel)

Number of votes cast for the TV talent show, American Idol, this week in millions: 65
Number of U.S. citizens aged 18-35 in the year 2000, in millions: 64
Number aged 18-35 who voted in the 2000 elections, in millions: 25
Percent that youth voter turnout has declined since voting age was lowered to 18 in 1972: 14
Percent that overall voter turnout has declined since 1972: 4

Sources on file at the Institute for Southern Studies.
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DATELINE: THE SOUTH * Top Stories Around the Region

NEW GENERATION OF BLACK AMERICANS RETURN SOUTH
In a trend that started in the 1970s and intensified in the 1990s, African Americans are reversing the "great migration" that took them North, and are returning South. Between 1995 and 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau says 680,000 African Americans returned. The South is now home to 55 percent of the nation's black population. (MSNBC, 5/24)
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5052699/

SECRECY SURROUNDS FLORIDA VOTER LISTS
The state of Florida is drawing criticism for creating a list of 47,687 supposed felons to be barred from voting in the 2004 elections -- and refusing to open the list for public inspection. In 2000, the state wrongfully "scrubbed" the names of tens of thousands of mostly African Americans from the voting rolls, wrongfully labeling them as felons. (Tallahassee Democrat, 5/19)
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/8699040.htm

10 COMMANDMENTS CASE DOMINATES ALABAMA PRIMARY
Former Chief Justice Roy Moore may have been removed from office for refusing to illegally placing the 10 Commandments in front of a courthouse, but the Alabama judge may still be a major player in the state's June 1 primary. Supporters of Moore have lined up to run for one congressional seat and all three state Supreme Court seats that are open. (Associated Press, 5/24)
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/nation/8748384.htm

LAWYERS DECRY GEORGIA'S "STATE OF EMERGENCY" FOR ECONOMIC SUMMIT
The National Lawyers Guild has condemned the recent announcement by the Governor of Georgia declaring a state of emergency merely because protests are expected in connection with the Group of Eight (G-8) summit meeting on Sea Island in June. (NLG, 5/24) 
http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/0524-06.htm

MEDIA WATCHDOG ASKS THAT LIMBAUGH BE TAKEN OFF TAXPAYER-FUNDED MILITARY RADIO
A liberal watchdog group has asked Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to remove Florida-based radio host Rush Limbaugh from the American Forces Radio and Television Service. Limbaugh's right-wing show is broadcast for one hour per day on the American Forces Network, at taxpayer expense, to nearly 1 million U.S. troops stationed in more than 1,000 outlets in more than 175 countries and U.S territories, including Iraq. (US Newswire, 5/26)
http://mediamatters.org/static/pdf/rumsfeld-press-release-20040526.pdf

AMERICA "IDOLIZES" SOUTHERN CROONERS 
In its popular three years on the Fox network, all three winners of the American Idol talent contest have been from the South; two of the runner-ups have hailed from Southern states, and the remaining second-place finisher grew up in Georgia. (Associated Press, 5/25)
http://tv.yahoo.com/news/ap/20040525/108549402000.html