A 2008 Birmingham News article about the release of a book that challenged the accepted version of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. The book, written by James Earl Ray\'s brother, was released in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of King\'s assassination.

1. LIFESTYLE
E M 1 2 3
[ SECTION E ]
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
School bus radio
WHO KILLED KING? may help quiet
rowdy riders
By DOUGLAS B. BRILL
Newhouse News Service
BusRadio says it can help calm rowdy stu-
dents on school buses with its free radios.
It sends eight hours of music, talk, public
service announcements and ads each day to
the radios, which pick up the programming
through wireless signals. The company com-
piles separate programming for elementary,
middle school and high school audiences, plus
long segments for field trips.
“School districts around the country will tell
you, providing music on buses goes a long way
with behavioral issues,” said Wesley Eberle, a
spokesman for BusRadio, headquartered in in
Needham, Mass. “It keeps the students enter-
tained and the driver can focus on the road.”
The Bangor (Pa.) Area School Board just
voted to equip 43 district school buses with ra-
dios that play the programming designed for
children. They are to be installed within 45
days.
District Superintendent John Reinhart
knows it isn’t a sure fix. “There’s no magic
medicine for behavior on the bus,” he said.
He said the district took the radios because
they have Global Positioning Systems and pro-
vide the ability to communicate directly with
911 dispatchers. Reinhart said that would
make for a safer bus ride regardless of what
programming does for student behavior.
“This is a way for us to be able to grab onto
a GPS system in a very cost-effective manner,”
Martin Luther King Jr. James Earl Ray Reinhart said. “Hopefully, with this new sys-
tem, we’ve upgraded our safety and security.”
In new book, James Earl Ray’s brother claims the government did Reinhart said giving a private company the
opportunity to advertise to a public school
population may be criticized, although BusRa-
By RAHKIA NANCE a black soldier in 1948. the next 20 years falling deeper into the dio said it has fewer ads than regular radio. Re-
News staff writer As a military police officer in Germany, government network, first used as an un- inhart said the safety upgrades outweigh the
T
James Earl Ray was directed to shoot the dercover operative investigating Commu- criticisms.
he dust has never settled since the
soldier, only identified as Washington, nists and eventually landing in and out of It costs $300 to $400 to install a GPS on a
shots that killed Martin Luther King
who had been arrested for beating up prisons, supposedly under the guidance school bus, meaning the district would pay
Jr. were fired, as conspiracy theories $12,900 to $17,200 to equip its buses. With
Jews. Army records showed that prior to of federal agents.
continue to swirl around his assassi- BusRadio, the district will actually make a
the incident, Ray had received two spinal John Larry Ray, now 75, had grown
nation 40 years later. small amount of money, since districts get a
taps, which John Larry suggests may have frustrated and “didn’t care one way or
For years, John Larry Ray has tried to the other” whether the information was cut of ad revenue.
been part of a drug experiment.
reveal what he says is an uncovered page That shooting, the book says, identified made available. But as the 40th anniver- BusRadio was formed in 2004 and has radios
in history about his older brother’s role sary of King’s murder approached, ama- on 10,000 buses in 160 school districts, reach-
James Earl Ray as a programmable per- ing an audience of 1 million students daily, ac-
in the assassination of Martin Luther sonality and would eventually thrust him teur historian Lyndon Barsten ap-
cording to the company. (None of these dis-
King Jr. He always has contended James into the center of the King assassination proached him, not wanting him to take tricts is in Alabama). The company calls itself
Earl Ray was a government “patsy,” the on April 8, 1968. (Ray initially confessed “the fastest growing national media network in
fall guy for a sophisticated government See KING Page 6E the youth music space.”
to shooting King, but recanted three days
plot. later.) Like ChannelOne, a broadcast company that
In his book “Truth At Last,” released Upon his general dis- provides video equipment to school districts
today, Ray says his brother was caught in charge from the that agree to air the company’s television
a web of hypnosis, brainwashing and Army in 1948, newscasts, BusRadio makes money by selling
advertisements in its programming.
government-backed mind-control pro- James Earl Ray
grams that all began with the shooting of would spend
Comfy chic
Yansi Fugel brings Paul Bryant Willie Mays
fall line to Gus Mayer
By CHANDA TEMPLE GUSTER
News staff writer
Yansi Fugel designs clothes for
the way she lives.
TESTING THE Whether she’s traveling the globe
COMICS WATERS Yansi Fugel gives for business, vacationing with her
Beginning today on the comics names to several family in Vermont, or preparing for
pages and on the editorial pages, of her collections. Fashion Week in New York, she wants Henry Aaron Jesse Owens
The Birmingham News is testing Several pieces the clothes on her body to be comfort-
new comic strips. from the “Broken able yet polished.
Fugel knows busy women want pol-
Time for Final Four vote
On the comics pages, we’ll do English” line are ished comfort, too, which is why she’s You have one more day to vote on the Final Four
them a month at a time, and we pictured here made a point to make timeless clothes match-ups in our Alabama’s Greatest Sports Legend brack-
begin with “Arctic Circle,” a strip including the faux that fit busy lifestyles. ets. It’s down to Bear Bryant vs. Willie Mays and Hank Aa-
by Alex Hallatt set in the cold, pony jacket, $660; Her clothes contain fabrics that are ron vs. Jesse Owens.
cold North Pole region. It’ll re- black-caramel washable, wrinkle-free and travel-friendly.
place “Cathy,” which fared
poorly in our recent comics’ poll,
broken argyle Her designs are also made to be mixed HERE’S HOW TO VOTE
and you’ll have a month to tell us
print Travel Jersey and matched for versatility.
wedge tunic/ The 53-year-old designer — who y Go online to blog.al.com/bn/madness. You have until
what you think about it. After quipped that 53 is the new 35 — said she 11 tonight to make your selections for the fifth round,
that, we’ll begin testing another dress, $330; Travel narrowing the field to the final two. Fifth-round winners
Jersey crush neck loves what she does. “It’s very rewarding
comic. because a lot of women that I come across will be revealed Sunday, April 6, in The Birmingham
On the editorial pages, “Doo- pullover, $176; in my travels . . . say, ‘There’s nothing but News. Then we’ll move on to the final round. That
nesbury” is on hiatus, and we’re black Travel Jersey Yansi in my closet,’ ” she said. winner will be announced on Thursday, April 10.
trying out the strip “Candorville,” fold-over-waist She apparently has a dedicated following
by Darrin Bell. bellbottom pants, in Birmingham. For the past 16 years, Gus
We suggest giving the comics $242; and Mayer at Colonial Brookwood Village has
a couple of weeks before you tell ultrmarine carried her line.
us what you think, but that’s en- cashmere knit arm “Season after season, Yansi creates
tirely up to you. Go to warmers, $132. clothes that are timeless, functional and DEAR ABBY 2E HOROSCOPE 2E
blog.al.com/bn/comics and let TELEVISION 2E SCRIBBLERS 3E COMICS 4E
us know what you think. See FUGEL Page 6E
SPECIAL
Eco-savvy companies ready to help you go green
By CHANDA TEMPLE GUSTER rings and bracelets by California de- hemp/green cotton fleece diapers reusable or organic materials to
News staff writer signer Jennifer Dawes are made from surged with 100% unbleached cotton support green living.
From makeup tools to a new recycled gold and socially and envi- thread. Fits newborns to toddlers. y Guess Green from Guess by
children’s book about a recycling su- ronmentally mined stones. Depend- Company also offers a skin care line Marciano, organic cotton used in
perhero, more companies are offer- ing on stone type and size, ring with natural and organic oils for in- select garments including jeans, T-
ing “eco-friendly” products to help prices start at $444; and bracelets are fants, and more. Go to shirts and tank tops. Available at
shoppers go green. As Earth Day $950. Available locally at Etc . . . in www.tinytush.com/growing greens. www.guess.com. The jeans are
(April 22) nears, here’s a look at Mountain Brook Village. Also at y Bamboo cotton blend bath $178, men’s T-shirts are $39 and Stackable rings from Jennifer
some newer products available to www.dawes-design.com. towels, $19.99. Available at Kohl’s, women’s tanks are $29. Dawes use recycled gold and
help us save the planet. y Tiny Tush Natural Baby Bou- which also has baby bibs, T-shirts,
See GO GREEN Page 6E
socially and environmentally
y Sustainably Beautiful stackable tique cloth diapers, $14.95 for five and candles made from recyclable, mined stones.