Drug Tests for welfare recipients

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Drug Tests for welfare recipients

By Michaela L. Duckett – June 3, 2011

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Good Morning! Thank goodness it’s Friday. What are your plans for the weekend? Be sure to check out Toni’s picks for fun in her weekly column, “On the town with Toni.”

This morning the weatherman is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of isolated thunderstorms this afternoon and highs in the mid 80’s.

Here's what is brewing in the news this morning:

Food Stamps and Drug Tests

Should those who apply for food stamps and other forms of government assistance first prove they are not on drugs?

Florida Gov. Rick Scott sure thinks so. He signed legislation this week that will require anyone seeking welfare assistance in the state of Florida to submit to a drug test before they can collect.

The governor said that it is "unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction," reports CNN.

Beginning July 1, applicants will have to pay for the drug tests out of pocket. They can later be reimbursed if they qualify. Those who test positive for drugs will be ineligible for government assistance for at least a year.

"It's the right thing for taxpayers," Scott said. "We don't want to waste tax dollars. And also, we want to give people an incentive to not use drugs."

The American Civil Liberties Union has called the blanket drug tests unconstitutional and have filed suit against the state. “Searching the bodily fluids of those in need of assistance is a scientifically, fiscally, and constitutionally unsound policy,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the ACLU of Florida.

*** QUESTION: Would you support a similar law being enacted in North Carolina? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Read more stories about food stamps:

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Charlotte mother sentenced in children’s deaths

Orgal Opata was sentenced to at least 10 years in prison for killing her two sons, reports the Charlotte Observer. Opata pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter. In February 2010, she left her children at home alone when a kerosene heater sparked the fire that killed her sons, Josiah, 2, and Gabriel, 1. (Read more here)
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New Birth in Denver?

Bishop Eddie Long’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is expanding to Denver, reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Elder Darius Wise is said to be the senior pastor of the new church. "We see a door and an opportunity opening in Denver, Colorado," AJC reports he said in a You Tube video. "Through much prayer and much consecration, we sense and believe that God is up to something special in the Denver, Colorado region and we are excited to be a part of it." (Read more at ajc.com)
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TV show ‘Single Ladies’ an embarassment?

Millions of viewers tuning in for the two-hour premiere of “Single Ladies,” helped VH1 reach some of its highest ratings since 2009. But not everyone liked what they saw. In an article for The Washington Post, Hank Stuever called the show embarrassing. He wrote: “This is a series for people who found ‘Sex and the City’ too quick-witted and ‘The Wendy Williams Show’ too intellectually stimulating. It’s the TV equivalent of a beach read with no words.” (Read more here)
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CAVS for MAVS

There are some people who really hate LeBron James. A man who goes by the moniker Cleveland Todd considers himself to be one of them. Tuesday, just hours before the Heat began playing the Dallas Mavericks, he created the Twitter account: @CavsforMavs. The description reads, “Cavs fans throwing their support behind the Dallas Mavericks. Must stop the Heat.” In just three days, he has gained over 5,000 followers. One even created a logo with the slogan “Defeat. Pure. Evil.” (Read more here)
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