November 6, 2025

The New Citizens Press

News For, By and About People

Headlines

Ask Tamara: Out of the Closet!

Rina Risper05 mins

Dear Tamara:
 
During a recent family gathering, my youngest brother announced that he is gay. The entire family was shocked, including me. I never suspected that my brother was gay. Growing up he had plenty of girlfriends and didn’t show any signs of being gay. I haven’t spoken to him since his big announcement and am really unsure about what to say or how to handle the situation. 
 
On one hand I want to support my brother and let him know that I still love him, but on the other I am really worried about him. Our family grew up in the church and this is not the way we were raised. I don’t agree with my brother choosing to live a gay lifestyle, I think homosexuality is a sin and I don’t want him to suffer. What can I do about this?
 
My Brother’s Keeper

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Your Other 8 Hours: How to Cash in on Oprah Winfrey’s New Network

Rina Risper08 mins

By Robert Pagliarini,
Tribune Media Services
 
 
At last count, Oprah Winfrey was worth a little over $23.234 trillion. Okay, that’s a slight exaggeration, but there’s no doubt she’s done well for herself in doing well for others. Now it could be your turn. Oprah launched the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) at noon on January 1, 2011. It’s a massive undertaking that could transform cable TV. And if you’re willing, it could also transform you.

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Winter Weather Safety

Rina Risper013 mins

By Karla Robinson, MD
  
As we go into the new year, winter weather is around the corner.  Therefore, it’s important to make sure you are aware of the top reasons for injury during the winter weather season.  Here we will review some of the health risks associated with the snow and ice and provide some tips on practicing winter weather safety.
 
Falls: Emergency room visits for broken bones, bumps, and bruises skyrocket in the winter months.  The culprit? Icy sidewalks and streets. 

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Interpersonal EDGE: Stop Office Grapevine

Rina Risper05 mins

By Dr. Daneen Skube
Tribune Media Services
 
Q. Sometimes I get really exhausted dealing with people issues at work. Other people don’t seem to find the politics so tiring. Am I just a wimp?

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Retire Smart: Small Medicare Premium Hike Improves Senior’s Social Security COLA

Rina Risper07 mins

By Mark Miller
Tribune Media Services
 
   Good news is hard to come by in this economy, but seniors can celebrate the final numbers on next year’s Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and Medicare premiums.
 
  The Social Security COLA and Medicare Part B premium go hand in hand, since the premium cost is deducted from most seniors’ benefits. And while it was already known that the Social Security COLA for 2012 would be 3.6 percent, it wasn’t clear how big a bite Part B would take from the increase.

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News Spotlight: Black History Month- CADL Downtown Mid Day Movies

Rina Risper02 mins

February 2                     Groundhog Day                       2:00 pm—3:45 pm
                                       (Bill Murray)  (PG)
 
February 7                     The Help                                  1:00 pm—3:25 pm
          (Jessica Chastain/Viola Davis)  (PG-13)
 
February 9                     The Help                                  1:00 pm—3:25 pm
          (Jessica Chastain/Viola Davis)  (PG-13)
 
February 14                    Lady Sings the Blues              1:00 pm—3:25 pm
                                       (Diana Ross/Billy Dee Williams)  (R)

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Winning with Finances – First Principle of a Financial Takeover – Stewardship

Rina Risper05 mins

What is missing from the financial talk today is the characteristic of stewardship. We can eliminate our financial worries if we can take the Bibles key point of stewardship. Psalm 24:1 declares that, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Everything we have on this earth is the Lord’s.

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News Spotlight: E! Investigates: Stalkers and MSU is Talking About It!

Rina Risper02 mins

  E! Investigates: Stalkers

Video Presentation and Discussion
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Time: 7pm
Location: MSU Union Parlors A, B and C
 
Stalking affects 3.4 million people each year.  Harvette Williams, Michigan resident and mother of two, was one of those people.  She couldn’t have imagined that Kevin Gary, a man she met at a networking event, would end up obsessively stalking her for years. 

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Shaken Baby Syndrome Shatters Lives

Rina Risper08 mins

 
 
 
 
Austin Thelen-Olins is now 12- years-old. This photo was taken in 2009, while accompanying his mother to a wedding. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Down:  Taken in 1999, less then a week after Austin was born. Now he suffers from the impact of Shaken Baby Syndrome.
 
 
 
“Shaken Baby Syndrome” usually happens when a caregiver is angry and loses control.
 
How to sooth a crying baby
 
Feed or burp the baby
Change the diaper
Make sure clothing isn’t too tight
Make sure baby isn’t too hot, or too cold
 
Next, try these techniques
–  Take the baby for a walk outside in a stroller or for a ride in the car seat
Hold the baby against your chest and gently massage the baby
–  Rock, walk, or dance with the baby
Be patient; take a deep breath and count to ten
–  Call a friend or relative that you can trust to take over for a while, then get away, get some rest, take care of yourself
–  Offer a pacifier
–  Lower any surrounding noise and lights
–  Offer the baby a noisy toy; shake or rattle it
–  Hold the baby and breathe slowly and calmly; the baby may feel your calmness and become quiet
–  Sing or talk to the baby using soothing tones
–  Record and playback a sound, like a vacuum cleaner, or hair dryer

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As I See It: Violence is Tarnishing Our Town

Rina Risper08 mins

By LaMar Brown
 
I have been a resident of Lansing my whole life. I am starting to see that some of the people who also live in my city have forgotten the value of life. There has been a tremendous increase of violence in a short period of time. I think we need to start effectively communicating with our youth, in a positive manner. Get more involved in youths lives by giving them activities to participate in other than watching adults make bad decisions. Give youth chores to teach them the art of work and appreciation. Maybe if they knew how to work for what they wanted they will appreciate what they receive. Giving youth responsibilities can play a major part in decreasing the violence.

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